DEDICATED fundraisers came together in Eden to help raise more than £15,000 to help fight cancer.

Relay For Life Eden Valley saw fifteen teams gather at Appleby Grammar School to take part in activities and enjoy entertainments while celebrating cancer survivors and remembering those who have lost their battle with the disease.

Participants and spectators were entertained by a lineup of local musicians and entertainers who gave up their time to support the event.

Cancer survivors were invited to take part in the Relay event as a guest of honour. Every Relay For Life begins with the inspiring Survivors' Lap of Honour. Cancer survivors walked the first lap, cheered and supported by the community.

The Candle of Hope ceremony followed whereby specially made Candle of Hope bags were decorated with touching messages in memory or in celebration of loved ones and displayed around the track.

Kate Walsh, event chair, said: “We have really enjoyed organising the event and had an absolutely fantastic weekend. The atmosphere was just brilliant. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the committee and to everybody who supported and donated to the event, which has helped us to raise further funds for Cancer Research UK.”

Natasha Patel, local fundraising manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years and the charity’s work has been at the heart of that progress. But despite improvements in treatment, cancer causes more than one in four of all deaths in the UK.

“Cancer Research UK wants to change that and needs the help of the people in the community to accelerate the progress that is being made against this devastating disease.”

For more information about this annual event, relay.cancerresearchuk.org/edenvalley or contact Kate Walsh on 07919911829.