Christie fund raisers celebrate with half a million

After 11 years of sweat and tears, local Christie fund raisers have celebrated drawing in a bumper £500,000 for the Manchester hospital.

The Christie Oldham, Rochdale and Middleton team, Christie’s longest running fund raising group, were invited to the hospital to toast their efforts and receive a gold award badge.

Group chairman, Lilian Walsh, whose zeal has earned her the nickname “little dynamo”, has worked tirelessly for Christie over the years, while looking after her husband Ron, another key member of the fund raising team, who died from lung cancer on Saturday.

The money the group has raised over the years has paid for, among the things, Graseby pumps, a special infusion device which connects to patients and slowly releases anti-cancer drugs.

Christie regional appeals officer, Jacky Plant, said: “The team turns out every weekend come rain or shine to raise money and its members are among our most loyal and dedicated — as reaching this total proves.

“We can’t really put into words how proud we are of them.”

Mrs Walsh said: "The people of Oldham, Rochdale and Middleton and surrounding areas have once again been wonderful.

"We're absolutely thrilled to reach this total, but we like to say this isn't our success —this is the success of the people who donate their hard-earned cash.”