The event, held last week, was hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron and involved more than 120 guests.

Simpkins received aftercare support from the charity after suffering from cancer in 2012. The care and help she received helped her get back on her feet and back into employment with a new role at GF Smith.

“They were fantastic. They gave me someone to talk to who understood the whole emotional affects of having cancer. I wouldn’t have got through it without them,” Simpkins said.

She is now an ambassador for Dimbleby Cancer Care, which was set up in memory of the broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.

His sons, David and Jonathan Dimbleby, are now president and chair of the trustees respectively.

The charity has centres at Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospitals in London and is in the process of raising £500,000 for its ‘care for the future’ appeal for a new centre at Guy’s which is set to open in 2016.

It offers a wide range of services including psychological support, benefits advice, support groups, and complementary therapies. It also provides cancer patients with special pillows, in line with Richard Dimbleby’s own wish that his fellow patients should receive the simple benefit of a comfortable pillow.

Simpkins, who has spent 30 years in the printing and paper industry, added: “GF Smith have been brilliant as well. I joined them just after my treatment. They knew that I had been through cancer when they took me on, and have been very supportive.”

The Downing Street event was held in partnership with Quintessentially Foundation, which is helping Dimbleby Cancer Care with its fundraising efforts.

To donate to the charity, visit www.dimblebycancercare.org/donate.

Picture shows, left-to-right: David Dimbleby, Simpkins, Samantha Cameron, Annie Bodenham (charity supporter), Jonathan Dimbleby and Ben Elliott (founder, Quintessentially Foundation).