The famous Salford City Reds rugby team is throwing their weight behind The Christie charity's appeal to raise £250,000 in partnership with the Salford Advertiser.

The Advertiser joined forces with the charity to raise a quarter of a million pounds towards the new £17million Christie radiotherapy centre being built at Salford Royal.

To kick off this partnership the club will be raising funds at their match on Friday 26th February at The Willows against Bradford Bulls.

The Manchester Show Choir will be performing before the game to warm up the crowd and a collection for the £250,000 appeal will take place before the match and at half time. Christie Bear and Reds mascot Ignito will also be on hand to make sure supporters dig deep.

Reds' team captain Malcolm Alker said; "Salford City Reds are proud to be involved with The Christie charity's appeal.  The charity is close to many, many people's hearts within our city and it will be an honour to be able to back their fabulous work. The target of a quarter of a million pounds is one we hope the people of Salford will get behind and help The Christie charity achieve."

The Manchester Show choir is also co-ordinating a spectacular Mother's Day concert at The Lowry in Salford Quays in aid of the appeal. 'Does Your Mother Know' will be performed on Sunday 14th March and will be hosted by Corrie stars Julie Hesmondhalgh aka Hayley Cropper and Julia Haworth aka Claire Peacock. The show will also feature performances by Hollyoaks actress Leah Hackett and former Coronation Street actor Bruno Langley who played Todd Grimshaw in the soap.

Community fundraising officer at the Christie charity, Ste Anderson, said; "It is fantastic to see the community of Salford getting behind this campaign in such spectacular style.

"This radiotherapy centre will transform cancer care for patients living in Salford which is why this appeal is so important. We are so grateful to Salford Reds for their support and we look forward to seeing a great turnout at their game tomorrow night."

The centre will be the second in a network where cancer patients from Salford, Wigan and Bolton will be able to access first class radiotherapy treatments from Christie experts, but much closer to home. Building work has started and the centre will open in 2011. The first radiotherapy centre is opening in Oldham in March 2010.

As well as treating patients for the most common cancers like breast, bowel and lung, this special development will also be a national centre of excellence for treating brain conditions. It will be equipped to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery, a highly specialised neurosurgical technique for brain cancers - making it one of only a handful of such centres in the UK.Currently patients from Greater Manchester have to travel to Sheffield for this treatment.

Notes to editor:  

To make a donation visit our dedicated webpage www.christies.org/salford, ring 0161 446 3988 (mention you are donating in response to the Salford Advertiser appeal) or send a cheque made payable to "The Christie, Salford Advertiser" to Salford Advertiser Christie Appeal, The Christie charity, The Christie, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX.

'Does Your Mother Know' takes place at The Lyric Theatre, The Lowry on Sunday 14th March 2010 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15.00 or £12.50 for concessions. To book contact the box office on 0843 208 6010 or book online at www.thelowry.com.

Meet the news team

For more information please contact: