A CHARITY which helps children and young people with cancer has benefited to the tune of more than £1,200 after Fenland District Council and a village pharmacy came together to support it.

Councillor Michael Humphrey, the council’s chairman, and his wife Marie joined Paul Hempsall and Dr Bharat Khetani at Parson Drove Pharmacy to hand the money over to Karen Roberts, area fund-raising manager for CLIC Sargent East.

Collections at the council’s past two Christmas carol services raised £418.50. The pharmacy raised a further £800 by setting aside the cash from the first sale every day over a year.

Cllr Humphrey has been involved with CLIC Sargent for some time, flying some of the children it supports and their parents and carers in trips from Fenland airfield.

He said: “It is a pleasure and privilege to be connected to such a great charity. It’s inspiring to see how the children face the challenge life has given them and a real treat to give them the chance to go flying.”

Mr Hempsall, the pharmacy’s superintendent pharmacist, said: “The staff would like to thank all our customers who, by using the pharmacy, have enabled us to help such a worthy charity.

“Having lost my own father to cancer, it is great to be able to help families who have to face its challenges.”