Record relay result for local cancer charity supporters

July 18, 2011 - PRLog -- The “Relay For Life”, organised by Skipton based fund raising team Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies, raised over £110,000 for Cancer Research UK. The total exceeds the amount raised by the group at last year’s Relay For Life by a whopping £34,000.

Cancer patients from Skipton and the surrounding areas joined family, friends and local businesses to walk for twenty four hours round a track illuminated by five hundred candles.

The event, which kicked off at 2pm last Saturday and ended at 2pm on Sunday, took place at Great Harwood Showground near Blackburn and is the group’s main annual fundraising event.

Patient and supporters, many of whom donned costumes for the occasion, ranged in age from twelve to eighty.
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 fundraisers have raised over £800,000 for the charity.

Last month the committee scooped the “Fundraising in the Community Award 2011” in the charity’s annual Flame of Hope awards.

Karen, who runs Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel with husband Malcolm, received a special commendation in the charity’s “Fundraising Volunteer of the Year” category.

Karen said, “The Relay For Life is a truly inspiring event which unites cancer patients, their friends and families across North Yorkshire and the Ribble Valley.”

“Despite pouring rain, teams kept the relay going round the clock and, through their various fund raising activities, raised a really remarkable sum of money.

Next year we want to involve anyone from the area who has been touched by cancer. We’re also keen to win the support of more local businesses”, she added.

Sarah McPhee, the charity’s area volunteer manager said “What the Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies do is outstanding. Their hard work and determination really does help save lives.”

The group, who plan to set up a junior fund raising team, hold events throughout the year. For more information contact Karen Weaving on 01756 700100 or visit www.ribblevalleyandwhiteroseladies.co.uk.