THIS year’s Pendle Business Awards will be supporting Petal, a local childhood cancer research charity.

Organisers are hoping that those who attend the awards ceremony and dinner will dig deep to help the charity to raise £150,000 in 2014.

Coun Joe Cooney, leader of Pendle Council, said the awards not only aims to raise the profile of local businesses but raise money for local charities.

Charities which have been supported in the past include Pendleside Hospice and Help for Heroes.

He explained that Petal is made up of eight local working women volunteers who devote their spare time to fundraise specifically for research into childhood cancers.

He said: “They’re aiming to raise £150,000 this year which will fund the first three years of a brand new trial.

“It will focus on children and young people with a type of high risk cancer continuing to grow or coming back after treatment.

“We’re really keen to help the charity reach its target so that our young people can have the best care available.”

Karen Mendoros, chairman of Petal, said: “I and my Petal committee colleagues are overjoyed and immensely grateful to Pendle Council and local businesses for this latest pledge of support.”