TWO friends with close connections to Haydock Park Racecourse organised a charity horse racing evening, resulting in £15,000 being raised for Cancer Research UK.

Helen Langan is known to jockeys especially - and visitors who may have required medical assistance - as she has been the racecourse's nurse for the last 17 years.

Christine Blundell works for North West bookmaker Betfred, the sponsor of Haydock Park's most valuable race- the £300,000 Betfred Sprint Cup which is run in September every year.

The two women, who went to school together, are both recovering from cancer, and wanted to raise money for research into the disease.

Companies - Betfred, Liverpool housing association Arena Options, and rivabingo.com - pledged their support by sponsoring races while further funds were raised through a raffle, auction and a bucket collection.

Helen said: "We were touched that we received so much support and encouragement from friends and colleagues.

"It was so appropriate that we were able to stage the evening at Haydock Park which helped to promote the work of Cancer Research UK in such a positive way."