Apprentice star and Royal to visit Ribble Valley charity (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Apprentice star and Royal to visit Ribble Valley charity

5:27pm Wednesday 27th August 2008 in Search By Ben Briggs

A CHARITY is celebrating a fundraising milestone with a special visit from a member of the Royal Family.

The Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies group is meeting the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, at their next event on September 9 at The Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton, North Yorkshire.

The Queen is President of Cancer Research, the designated fund to which the Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies regularly contribute, and the event is to mark the fact it has raised over £500,000 for research into childhood leukaemia.

A group spokesman said: “The luncheon will be a celebration of the drive and resilience of youth, with some inspirational youngsters invited to meet the duke including Yorkshire’s runner up in the BBC’s last series of The Apprentice, Claire Young.”

The Apprentice star will be attending the event prior to her own appearance as speaker at Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies’ annual ball on October 10.

The Skipton lunch event will also be attended by 13-year-old Lauren Richmond, from Barnoldswick, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in October 1999 and will meet the Duke having successfully fought the disease with the aid of treatment. Lauren’s presence will be a stark reminder to those present as to what can be achieved through fundraising.

And while the name of the charity suggests otherwise, it welcomes male supporters and non-members to the regular luncheon and dinner events which feature a range of inspiring speakers.

New members are also welcome to sign up to the group before the visit of the Duke of Gloucester next month.

For details on how to support the Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies or for tickets to the luncheon on September 9 contact secretary, Karen Weaving, on 01756 700100.