About 250 guests raised $79,000 from 50 auction items and more through raffles, door prizes and entry to gather $95,000 at a fundraising ball in Katherine at the end of December.

Photos taken at the fundraiser ball are for sale at the Katherine Times office or online. Half of the proceeds from photo sales over the counter will be donated to Emily Tapp to support her ongoing treatment.

The money will allow 20-year-old Emily, who became a paraplegic after a horse-riding accident a year ago, a spot in the rehabilitation program Project Walk in California.

Her aunt and event organiser, Toni Tapp Coutts, and sister Courtney, said the fundraising ball was “overwhelming and heartfelt”.

Toni said the generous crowd was made up mostly of Katherine locals and reflected the town’s passionate charity.

“I think certainly the people of Katherine, they dug deep and paid outrageous prices for some of the stuff purely for the support of the cause,” she said.

She said Emily was “overwhelmed and very gracious and thankful”.

Two items topped the auction list on the evening: A horse embryo donated by Emily’s father Ben Tapp from Maryfield and Mountain Valley Stations, and a pair of longhorns from the local Patterson family - both sold for $18,000.

Christina Jones from Coolibah Station bought the embryo from Cool Dust, the last of the Romeo and Freckle Face line.

The impressive set of longhorns went to Tony and Pam Davis from

Moroak Station.

The crowd bid on other items including horse-training sessions with expert Cameron Parker, cattle, bull semen doses, artwork, and Swarovski and Paspaley jewellery.

A whip originally made specially for US President Barak Obama by Mick’s Whips in Darwin was also auctioned and sold off for $1700.

Organisers thanked the community, sponsors and guests for the “awesome” support.