The event will take place on Saturday, May 17 at Mrs Cousins' home at 162 Atherstone Avenue, Peterborough in aid of Children's Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) – the charity which offered support when her grand-daughter Sally was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease as a baby and required a liver transplant.

Sally, who celebrated her 13th birthday on May 6, was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a disease in which the bile ducts become progressively blocked leading to irreversible liver damage.

Sally, who lives with her family in Grantham, went on to have a liver transplant at nine months old and is now doing well with medication to prevent her body rejecting the donor organ.

This will be the seventh May garden party that Maureen has organised for CLDF, with funds raised on the day helping the charity to continue its family support, education and research programmes.

Mrs Cousins hopes the party, which begins at 11am, will beat last year's fund-raising total of £1,200. Admission is free.

Mrs Cousins' husband Ray has grown a wide selection of plants which can be purchased on the day. There will also be home-made refreshments including cream teas, and a tombola and raffle with prizes including a bottle of House of Commons wine donated by MP Stewart Jackson.

She said: "The response last year was fantastic and we hope that even more people will attend this year.

"Not only do we raise vital funds, but the day also gives us the opportunity to increase awareness of childhood liver disease, as few people realise it affects 1,000 children a year.

"CLDF services are a lifeline for families, and knowing that we are doing something to help makes all the effort worth while. It would be great to beat last year's fund-raising total."

Chief executive of CLDF Catherine Arkley added: "Maureen has been a fantastic supporter of CLDF's work for a number of years and we are extremely grateful for her on-going support.

"She knows only too well how devastating childhood liver disease can be and why CLDF's services are so important. Every penny raised at the event is desperately needed and will help thousands of families.

"It is also wonderful to see Sally celebrating such a milestone. She is a great advertisement for the importance of organ donation, and we hope that people consider joining the organ donor register and make their wishes known to their family."

For more information on the foundation call 0121 212 3839. People can join the organ donor register at at www.childliverdisease.org