A TEAM of dedicated volunteers have received a prestigious award for their work supporting cancer research.

The Flame of Hope accolade was presented at the 50th anniversary lunch of Chadderton and Oldham Voluntary Committee for Cancer Research UK at The White Hart, Lydgate.

The glittering event was attend by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith, who opened the event with a message from the Duke of Gloucester.

Since the Chadderton and Oldham Local Committee was formed in 1969, it has raised £727,656.

And during their anniversary year they will be raising money to support the work of Dr Darren Hargrave researching into treatments for children with inoperable brain tumours, with some research being carried out at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Professor Tim Somervaille and his team are also trying to understand more about leukaemia stem cells. He is working to develop a new drug that targets a key molecule in the LSCs.

This drug is being tested in trials for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

In addition to the special Flame of Hope accolade, members were presented with 50th Anniversary badges by the chairman of Cancer Research UK Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.

The guest speaker was Tricia Stewart, one of the original Calendar Girls, who gave the full amusing story of the Calendar Girl Calendar.

The event was attended by 154 guests.