A COUPLE from East Lancashire always willing to go the extra mile have been named Supporter of the Year for a local charity.

Husband and wife duo Bob and Trudy Tuffnell collected their award at a supporters’ evening at Preston North End’s Deepdale Stadium on March 21.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation had organised the night to recognise and thank the contributions made by its volunteers and fundraisers from across the county.

In singling out the Clayton-le-Moors couple for the accolade, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s East Lancs fundraising co-ordinator Louise Grant said: “As well as undertaking their own fundraising for us, Bob and Trudy will willingly travel cross county to help other supporters with their events and to take part in supermarket collections."

Bob and Trudy, who between them have seven children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, have been supporting Rosemere Cancer Foundation since Trudy was treated for breast cancer at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, almost a decade ago.

Since then, Bob, who used to work as a coach driver before joining Trudy in running a catering business that took them to retirement, has braved a parachute jump and together the couple have organised a 60s night and regular table top sales, raffles, tombolas and car boots to help raise funds for the charity. They also asked family and friends, who turned out to help them celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, to make donations to Rosemere Cancer Foundation in lieu of gifts.

In tribute, Ms Grant added: "Over the last couple of years, they have amassed their own Rosemere fundraising kit:a gazebo, tombola drum, tombola prizes, games, tables, literature. It has taken over their spare room and lock up but it enables us to be in two places at once when there are same day event clashes.

"I really couldn’t do what I do without the support of Bob and Trudy. My thanks to them for their time, dedication and commitment to Rosemere and me on a personal level comes from the heart.”

For further information on Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s work and how to donate, visit www.rosemere.org.uk