About Us

We have eight members and many supporters fully commited to raising money in aid of Children's Cancer research.

Our History

Cancer Research Campaign as it was in 1998 invited Karen (Committee Secretary) and Malcolm Weaving (Honorary Member) for an interview with a view to hosting a fund raising event at their hotel – Stirk House in Gisburn.

They were chosen out of several other hotels interviewed to host a fund raising ball and the first Lancashire County ball was held at the Stirk House Hotel in March 1998 and raised £10,000.00. As this event was a resounding success Cancer Research Campaign then urged Karen and Malcolm Weaving to continue to raise funds on their behalf and suggested a luncheon club since they were quite successful in Cheshire. The first luncheon was held in September 1998 and immediately recruited over 400 members and raised £3,000.00.

In addition Lady Waddington was invited to become our President and accepted.

The Ribble Valley Ladies Luncheon Club was well and truly successfully launched!!!!!

On raising £250,000.00 HRH the Duke of Gloucester was invited and accepted an invitation to one of our lunches. The Duke of Gloucester also re-visited us on the 9th September of this year to collect a further cheque and an update regarding progress. From 2004 Karen and Malcolm moved to Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton, Yorkshire and hence White Rose the sister to Ribble Valley was launched to the press in September of that year to a very interested audience.

We now host many events and activities including black tie balls, charity fashion shows and indeed many sporting events including many runners in several London Marathons.

In addition we are supported by our President Jana Khayat, former Chair Woman of Fortnum & Mason and a family member of the prestigous Weston dynasty, Santa Montefiore our former President (sister of Tara Palmer Tompkinson), Nigel Evans MP (loyal long term supporter) Neil and Christine Hamilton, Fortnum and Mason (London), Rackhams Department Store of Skipton and Cosgrove Mens and Ladies Wear of Whalley and Rimington together with many others.

The committe were delighted when Karen Mendoros agreed to take over the chair in September 2009.

Our money goes a long way to funding at present Professor Jillian Birch who is a Research Scientist and Director of the Cancer Research UK Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. She has attended several of our lunches and has inspired our members with reports of the enormous progress made in recent years.

SEE RELAY FOR LIFE 2012