A TEAM of charity fundraisers have maintained their reputation for helping worthy causes, with a well-known regional charity again the latest to benefit.

The group, led by Kevin and Alison Atkinson, welcomed Lady Elsie Robson and her publicity champion Liz Luff to Sacriston Workingmen’s Club

(WMC) to present the proceeds of their most recent efforts.

A cheque for £5,156.21 was presented to Lady Elsie, the widow of the late Sir Bobby Robson, to boost the foundation set up in his name to raise funds for cancer research.

Mr Atkinson and his team have been raising money for more than 21 years, donating tens of thousands of pounds in that time to such worthy charities as Help for Heroes, St. Cuthbert’s Hospice, the Great North Air Ambulance, Macmillan Nurses and the Special Care Baby Unit at Durham’s University Hospital of North Durham.

But for more than 12 months their focus has been on the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and the sum of £4,697.30 was raised last year.

This year’s sum was raised with a music night staged at Sacriston WMC to add to funds raised on Mr Atkinson’s annual summer weekend trip which saw a 200-strong party visit Chester Races, with stop-offs in Liverpool and Wakefield. affectionately referred to as Sid’s Tours.

Mr Atkinson thanked Sharon Huggins from the Tesco store in Chester-le-Street, Andy Hepple of Hepple Property Care, at nearby Fencehouses, and Matty Wilson, of Durham County Cricket Club, for their generous donations.

Meanwhile, Mr Atkinson is busy planning next year’s charity events and weekend at the races.