A WHARFEDALE fundraising group has been given a new lease of life after welcoming five new members.

Anne Wilson, June Lavers, Janet Ellison, Sue Hope and Joyce Thorpe will help organise fundraising events, coffee mornings and collections as part of the Wharfedale Voluntary Fundraising Committee for Yorkshire Cancer Research, which celebrates its 45th anniversary next year.

Yorkshire Cancer Research, which was founded in 1925, funds projects to help more people in Yorkshire avoid, survive and cope with cancer. The charity works in partnership with researchers, the NHS and other charities to improve cancer outcomes in the county, where people are more likely to get the disease, and more likely to die from it, than most other counties in England.

Wharfedale Committee has raised £204,649 for Yorkshire Cancer Research since it was formed in 1969. A further £107,296 has been left in the wills of people living in the Wharfedale area, bringing the total raised to £311,945.

Anne Wilson, 71, who lives in Embsay and is in remission after undergoing treatment for bone marrow cancer, said: “After a successful course of chemotherapy at Airedale Hospital’s superb haematology oncology day unit, I just knew I had to put something back into the system.

"Some of my closest friends were already members of the Wharfedale Committee, so that was the obvious choice.”

June Lavers, who is 69 and lives in Burley-in-Wharfedale, said: “I personally know of so many lives that have been touched by the scourge of cancer, and if I can make just a tiny contribution to help in the fight against this disease, I will be very happy.”

Janet Ellison is 65 and lives in Ilkley. She said: “Having left a busy career, I felt I could use my time being part of a charitable organisation. I have the time and enthusiasm to help in fundraising.

"Cancer affects us all one way or another. I have lost relatives and friends through this disease, hence I chose Yorkshire Cancer Research.”

Sue Hope, 68, who also lives in Ilkley, said: “We are all affected in some way by cancer, whether personal or through friends or family. I want to help raise funds for valuable research, however small the contribution may be.”

Joyce Thorpe, 65, lives in Burley-in-Wharfedale and lost her husband, Colin, to prostate cancer two years ago.

She said: “I felt I wanted to help in some way to find ways of fighting this dreadful disease. My husband received various treatments, often as part of trials at St James’s University Hospital. Latterly, he was on a Phase I trial, which we hoped would perhaps help others in the future.”

Ros Carthy, chairman of the committee, added: “We are delighted to welcome our five new members and we look forward to working together on our upcoming events. The committee is now stronger than ever, and we hope to raise many more thousands of pounds for Yorkshire Cancer Research.”

The committee will hold its annual luncheon at Otley Golf Club in October, followed by a Christmas coffee morning at Guiseley Cricket Club on December 5. Visit ycr.org.uk for more details about Yorkshire Cancer Research.