THE Yorkshire Carol Concert Committee for the Macmillan Cancer Support Candlelit Concert at Ripon Cathedral hopes this winter’s event will take the fundraising total past the £150,000 mark.

The committee has held five such concerts in the past six years, taking the sum to £120,000 and the aim is to raise a further £30,000 on December 8, when the Yorkshire Carols By Candlelight concert will feature carols, readings and the Aysgarth School choir.

The committee chairman, Kate Stone, says: “We’re so pleased to have raised such a landmark amount for Macmillan and want to thank all our partners, Aysgarth School, Ripon Cathedral, sponsors and all the local people and businesses who support the event by buying tickets and advertising in our programme”.

The Macmillan carol concert was originally the idea of Lady Zetland, a previous Macmillan president, who wanted to recreate the Macmillan Guards Chapel Carol Concert in London at a suitable northern location.

The first was held in 1996 and the present committee is now in charge of its sixth event. “I’m not sure whether it is the quality of the Aysgarth boys’ choir, our celebrity readers or our legendary sloe gin and mince pies that is the big draw, but whatever it is, we do seem to attract a growing number of people each year,” says Kate.

Macmillan area fundraiser Erin Fairley adds: “We can’t thank the Yorkshire Carol Concert Committee enough. The money raised makes a huge difference as it helps fund Macmillan services, which are there to make sure no one faces cancer alone.”

• Tickets cost £10 to £30 and must be pre-ordered. To book, email riponcarolconcert@yahoo.co.uk or ring 07768 935702. The cathedral doors will open at 7pm on the night.