A GROUP of fundraisers is celebrating raising more than £50,000 for a cancer hospital.

The Christies Grafters, who are based in Rishton, have collected the cash with a series of events over the last 10 years including sales, fetes and auctions.

Chair of the Grafters, Lorraine Wallace, 56, of Hermitage Street, Rishton, said the group was set up in a bid to raise cash and was prompted by the case of a neighbour who had ovarian cancer.

But now the group has continued its good work to focus their efforts on people fighting a range of cancers.

Mrs Wallace said: "When we started it was to help buy a specific piece of equipment.

"But now we just want to raise money to help with whatever we can."

All of the cash they collect goes to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, which is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe.

The Grafters are a 10-strong group with members across the Great Harwood and Rishton area.

Mrs Wallace said: "It is so important to help raise funds for Christies because all of the money they get helps with treatment. It is not just for the actual machinery and drugs but for anything that helps cancer sufferers cope."

She said that seeing how much her sister, Pat Robinson, who lives in London and who has breast cancer, has benefited from the beauty treatments and pampering sessions she has received while in hospital has made the group even more determined.

This year the Christies Grafters have raised more than £6,000 after a series of events.

They held a number of collections at the Tesco supermarket in Hill Street, Blackburn, as well as garden parties throughout the summer where they sold Christies gifts.

A Christmas raffle and prize draw also raised an extra £1,580.

Mrs Wallace added: "It is a lot of hard work.

"But it is so important that we keep on collecting as much money as we can.

"The generosity of people over the last 10 years has been wonderful."