A GROUP of North West fundraisers is celebrating raising £100,000 for Cancer Research UK through a series of regular coffee mornings, gigs and hot pot nights.
The Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends began fundraising for Cancer Research UK in 2010.
The £100,000 was raised over the years at events such as their monthly coffee mornings, annual Big Gig Event, Hot Pot nights, craft fairs and much more.
Carolyn Cross, founder of the Wrightington and Wigan Group of friends and Clerk to Wrightington Parish Council, said: “I have been so lucky since I started our group of friends.
“Having survived cancer myself, I wanted to give something back and, as somebody who loves nothing better than a coffee and a chat, I decided to start the coffee mornings.
“They have become so much more over the past 8 years and we are now a close friendly network of people who support my family and I in everything we arrange to support Cancer Research UK.
“They have been amazing, attending the coffee mornings, eating my cakes, joining in with our sing-a-longs and hot pot suppers and always going the extra mile to try to beat our previous totals.
“It was wonderful this morning to celebrate with everyone, including the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of West Lancashire, reaching this huge milestone in such a short period of time.
“I cannot thank my wonderful family and friends who are the real supporters who deserve our thanks and, without whom we could not have reached a wonderful £100,000.00.
“I am always overwhelmed and amazed at everyone’s continuing support and generosity. I love them all to bits and look on them all as my special friends.”
Money raised by the Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends will fund research to beat cancer sooner, helping to ensure more men, women and children in Wigan and across the UK survive.
The Deputy Mayor of West Lancashire, Councillor Gaynar Owen and the Deputy Mayoress Mrs Bernie Green attended the Coffee Morning at Mossy Lea Village Hall, Wrightington to present Carolyn and the committee with an award to thank them for their support and hard work over the years. Carolyn was also delighted to receive the West Lancashire Borough Council Shield from the Deputy Mayor for her commitment to the charity.
Jo Moss, Cancer Research UK’s local fundraising manager for Wigan and Leigh, said: “The Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends have made a huge contribution to Cancer Research UK’s work over the past 8 years and we are incredibly grateful for their support”
“One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. However, we have only been able to achieve this thanks to the dedication and commitment of volunteers and supporters like the Wrightington and Wigan Group of Friends without whom we would not be able to fund our life-saving research.
“Last year in Manchester, we spent over £26 million on some of the UK’s best scientific and clinical research. Manchester is one of our major research hubs. Our team there are ready, able and equipped to take on cancer and help more people beat the disease in the North West and all over the UK.”
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit cruk.org.
