A CHARITY car wash held as part of a year-long crusade against cancer boosted the campaign’s coffers by £650.

Soapycar.com at Tindale Crescent, near Bishop Auckland, donated its takings from Saturday, August 31 to Cancer Research UK.

The car wash was one of a series of events being held by book club friends who aim to raise £4,000 for cancer charities, in the year that several of them turn 40.

Member Anne-Marie Dunn, of Newton Aycliffe, said: “It was a fantastic day with an amazing turn out.

“The team worked their socks off with practically bumper to bumper washing for most of the day.

“The people who came were really, really generous too and we made a total of £650 with the car washes and raffle.”

Friend Mandy Humphrey, who runs the car wash, offered to donate a day’s takings to Cancer Research UK in memory of her late sister and best friend, Debbie Taylor, who died of skin cancer in 2005.

Mrs Dunn thanked everyone at Soapycar.com, customers, businesses in the St Helen Auckland area that promoted the event and Lifestyle Printing, which produced flyers.

The group has a Facebook page which can be found by searching for £4,000 to combat cancer.