For the past 50 years, members of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK have worked tirelessly to raise money to help fund research to beat the disease.
The dedicated volunteer group has organised and run countless coffee mornings, raffles and bingo nights as well as taken part in, and inspiring others to complete a myriad of sporting challenges to boost funds.
Whatever the weather, they have always risen to the challenge and last month was no different when on the morning of their pre-Christmas coffee morning they woke to find five inches of snow had fallen across Teesdale.
Pam Ashmore, secretary of the group, said: “A lot of work had gone into setting up the fair.
“We were set up for Saturday but with the snow decided it was best to move it until Sunday.”
A day later than scheduled they welcomed visitors to Cotherstone Village Hall for the annual event during which they present a six-figure cheque, the culmination of all funds raised through the year, to the research team at Newcastle.
Mrs Ashmore added: “We put something out on social media and three of our members who live in Cotherstone went to the hall in case anyone didn’t get the message. We still had a dozen or so people turn up on Saturday, but it was really well attended on Sunday.”
The group has raised in excess of £1.3m during the past five decades and members were delighted to add another £100,000 this year.
Mrs Ashmore added: “We are really pleased that we made the £100,000 given it was our golden anniversary year. We didn’t dare hope we would reach it, but are really pleased that we did.”
The cheque for the bumper amount, raised with the help of many individuals, businesses and organisations across Teesdale, was presented to Janet Leafe, the region’s fundraising co-ordinator.
Prior to the handover, treasurer Sue Warnes thanked everyone for their efforts to raise the money, highlighting some of the individuals who took on various challenges throughout the year.
She thanked Sarah Burke and her friends, known as the Peaky Striders, who completed a variety of challenges including the Yorkshire 3 Peaks to raise £8,960.75; apprentices at GSK raised £1,225 ascending Scafell Pike; Middleton-in-Teesdale hotelier Dave Falconer pulled in £2,191.31 tackling a gruelling fell run while Sophie Clarke skipped her legs off raising £727.50 and Dave Sellwood raised £2,741 from a running challenge.
Dedicated committee member Brenda Thwaites took part in a 10,000-step challenge in spring to raise £1,013.
Donations from individuals and group fundraising events contributed a large amount to the final figure, with £12,118.08 received in the past 12 months. During the same period legacy donations in memory of loved ones made up £16,047.01.
Mrs Warnes said: “Turning Barney Pink, in October, when businesses and residents decorated their premises helped us celebrate a busy fortnight, enabling us to raise £7,574.88 including £3,550 from Pam’s Pink Day.
“This year has been a very special year for the Teesdale branch as we celebrated 50 years of fundraising for Cancer Research UK.
“Fundraising is hard work, but very rewarding and we are always on the lookout for new volunteers and helpers to join us and continue the excellent work of Cancer Research UK in our quest to beat cancer,” she added.
“We all had a vision of what we would like to raise in this our 50th year and we’re pleased this has been achieved.”
