Sun shines for record six figure relay

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- The “Relay For Life”, which was organised by Skipton-based Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies, raised £132,500 for Cancer Research UK, smashing last year’s relay total by £22,000.

Cancer patients and survivors joined family, friends and local businesses to walk for twenty four hours round a specially created track in the grounds of Skipton’s historic Broughton Hall Estate.

The relay was formally opened at 2pm on Saturday by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne. Eight year old Paralympic torch bearer Evan Whitton from Silsden was also there to take part in the opening ceremony.

Local town crier Roland Hailwood acted as MC throughout the round-the-clock proceedings, which included keep fit classes, dance, live entertainment and an emotional flame of hope ceremony, illuminated by five hundred candle bags made and decorated by local school children.

Now in its third year, the event was attended by cancer survivors whose ages spanned eight decades. Fourteen year old Zack Driver donned fancy dress for the occasion, while the oldest survivor there, eighty-one-year-old Frank Smith led survivors in a lap of honour to kick-start the marathon relay.

Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies was set up in 1998 to raise money for research into childhood cancer by Skipton hotelier, Karen Weaving. Since then the all-female fundraising force have raised £900,000 for the charity.

Karen, who runs Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel with husband Malcolm, said,

“The glorious sunshine helped to get proceedings off to a great start. Spirits remained high into the evening and right through the night, thanks to the hundreds of dedicated supporters who took part.”

“We’re extremely grateful to all our supporters, especially Roger Tempest of the Broughton Hall Estate and the many local businesses who donated their services and helped to make this year’s relay another record fundraising success,” she added.

The group organise fundraising events throughout the year. For more information visit www.ribblevalleyandwhiteroseladies.co.uk or contact Karen Weaving on 01756 700100.