THE LYMM and District Local Committee has celebrated raising £360,000 for Cancer Research UK over its 55 year history.

Set up in 1962, the fundraising committee has drummed up money for Cancer Research UK in the 55 years since and has now reached the milestone of £360,000.

Fundraising events in that time have included two 7k charity runs around Lymm, flower selling, barbeques, coffee mornings, concerts, fashion shows and historical walks.

Geoff Hawley, chairman of the Lymm and District Local Committee, said: “The main reason we carry on fundraising is that most of us have had cancer and those that haven’t have certainly had close family members who have died from it in the past.

“This certainly has given us plenty of incentive to keep on going for so many years.

“Each of us who have had cancer are reaching the magic five years being cancer-free which makes us even more grateful for the work that Cancer Research UK does.

“The main thing is that as a committee we have had and continue to have a lot of fun doing what we do and do the best we can.”

Katie Hesketh, fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK in the north west, said: “I would like to thank the Lymm and District Local Committee for their incredible contribution to Cancer Research UK’s work over the past 55 years – we are extremely grateful for their support.

“Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s and our 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 Lymm and District Local Committee who have played a significant part in developing that progress.”