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Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Jack Black and Leonardo DiCaprio sign items for Aplastic Anaemia Trust charity auction at Lordswood Leisure Centre

By: Clare Freeman

Published: 12:00, 05 November 2016

Stars of screen and stage have once again been helping a woman raise money in memory of her best friend.

Jo Warrener, 38, from Strood, died in hospital just eight weeks after being diagnosed with the blood disorder aplastic anaemia.

Becca Hill decided to do all she could to support the Aplastic Anaemia Trust and started going to film premieres to get prizes for a film-themed quiz night.

Jo died suddenly after developing aplastic anaemia.

The event last year raised more than £5,000 and was such a success she has organised another one. This year’s quiz is on Saturday at Lordswood Leisure Centre, North Dane Way.

Between attending film premieres and tweeting celebrities, Ms Hill, 36, has collected memorabilia from Jason Bourne star Matt Damon, The Man from Uncle’s Alicia Vikander, Jack Black and the cast of Kung Fu Panda 3, Tom Hardy and Danny Dyer.

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She also went to the Baftas and got items signed by Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Fassbender, John Boyega and Will Poulter.

The friends met in 2002 while working at Standard Life, Kings Hill.

At first, Mrs Warrener seemed to be responding well to treatment and was looking forward to returning home with her husband of eight years, Steve, but early on November 5, 2014, she suffered a cardiac arrest and died the next day.

Ms Hill said: “Jo fought hard despite infections, the throat pain that made it unbearable to even drink, and having countless blood and platelet transfusions.

Becca Hill with Matt Damon

“She kept the humour she had always had – she said the treatment involved horse hormone which resulted in jokes about Jo getting a long mane and ‘neighs’ to the medical staff.”

She added: “Jo was a real film enthusiast and knew so much about films, from the direction to the production as well as the actors and actresses. Her favourite films were Avatar, Titanic and Meet Joe Black.”

Raffle prizes have been donated by Kent Fine Foods, Kent Cider Co, Paul Greengrass Cinema, Biddenden Vineyards, Elm Court Farmers Market, META and Head Hunters in Rochester.

Email charitynightforaatrust@gmail.com for more details.

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