On a spring night in a corner of Pembrokeshire, 300 guests dressed in black tie and ball gown faced the music and danced their way to raising over £11,500 for charity.

The inaugural Pembroke Refinery Valero Volunteer Council Charity Spring Ball, held on Friday, April 19, saw 300 guests from Valero, contract companies and suppliers spin their way around the Pavilion at the Bluestone Resort for an evening in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The charity was chosen earlier this year by the Valero workforce in Wales as its 2013 Charity of the Year.

Contracting companies and suppliers sponsored different components of the evening, such as transport to the event, the entertainment or the drinks reception, with a contribution to Macmillan on top. Extra funds also came from a raffle and an auction, which both raised over £2,000.

Ruth Ferguson, executive assistant at Valero's Pembroke refinery, headed the nine-person committee who organised the ball.

"We all took on different responsibilities, we had a plan and we stuck with it. Tickets sold out within two weeks; there was definitely a strong demand for this."

She added that it wasn't difficult to get people and companies to give to such a high-profile charity as Macmillan.

"I think everybody has someone they know who has or has had cancer, including a couple of our colleagues, which really brings home the importance of the work that Macmillan does. Also, it is the charity that the refinery chose for the focus of our giving during the year."

Ruth said that the final total raised was way beyond what the Valero Volunteer Council hoped for.

"It was incredible what we raised in the end. We were aiming for £8,400 at the start, which would pay for two Macmillan nurses for a month, but the final total was well over our target. Everyone was really generous on the night and the feedback was that they all had a great night and so we hope people will be more likely to turn out for events like this in the future."

Sue Reece, fundraising manager at Macmillan, said: "It was a wonderful surprise to receive the news from Valero that £11,500 had been raised for Macmillan at the Charity Ball in April.

"I would like to thank everyone on the Valero Volunteer Council for organising such a fabulous fundraising event. The money raised will enable our cancer nurse specialists and health professionals to continue providing support to people affected by cancer in the local community."