A CHARITY that provides life-enhancing experiences for seriously ill children and adults has branched out into North Yorkshire.

The Bishop Auckland-based Bringing Back A Smile Charity has been running for almost two-years and helps fund days out and positive experiences for people suffering from serious and terminal illnesses.

The recent Thirsk Truck Gathering donated £1,000 to the cause and two of the truck festival’s organisers, Suzie Dodds and Jason Smallridge went even further and volunteered to help establish the charity in the Thirsk area.

Kevin Hill, the founder of Bringing Back A Smile, said he was delighted to welcome Mrs Dodds and Mr Smallridge onboard to boost the charity’s reach in the North Yorkshire region.

He said: “They asked if they could join the charity and after a word with the other board members it was agreed.

“They are going to promote the charity down in Thirsk and throughout North Yorkshire so we can help more people and it is just to let people know that the charity is working in that area.

“We already help people in the North-East and further afield, but it is just about getting word out there in North Yorkshire.”

In the relatively short time that it has been formed, the charity has raised £32,000 to fund countless activities for poorly people.

Recently it provided spa breaks for women with breast cancer and enabled a young boy with leukaemia to go on holiday with his family to Primrose Valley in Filey.

Mrs Dodds, of Bagby, said that although she has donated money to many charities over the years through the Thirsk Truck Gathering, this is the first time she has been inspired to get directly involved.

She said: “If there is anybody in the Thirsk area that needs our help, we will try and do it through Bringing Back a Smile.

“It is a cause close to my heart, especially when you meet the children, I don’t know anybody that could say no to putting their hand in their pocket.”

To support the charity or to get in touch and learn more about its work, visit the website bringingbackasmile.co.uk