A LOCAL charity has been given a welcome boost by a Blackburn health club celebrating its first anniversary.

Ewood Health Club is raising cash for the Blackburn Friends of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and life-saving equipment.

The Blackburn branch of the charity, formed three years ago, was inspired by five-year-old Glenn Challenger's battle against leukaemia and has since gone on the raise more than £40,000. Karen McAllister, from the club said: "We wanted to do something special to celebrate our first birthday. As I had heard a lot about Glenn we decided to raise as much as possible for the trust.

"This is the first time the club has done anything like this but it is a worthy cause and we are sure our members will be generous."

There's a free prize draw until the end of the month with one year's membership, worth £398, as first prize, 10 free sunbed sessions as second prize and a free fitness analysis for the third prize.

Lindsey Macdonald, press officer for the charity said: "This is just another example of how generous the people of Blackburn are - we couldn't have hoped for anything more. Some of the members of the club have done things for us before but it's thanks to the coverage we get through the Citizen that our fight has been so successful."

The charity is always on the lookout for more bone marrow donors but there is an urgent need for male and donors from the ethnic minorities. Anyone who would like more information about becoming a donor can ring Lindsey on 207395.

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