FORMER Yorkshire and England cricketer Darren Gough is guest speaker at York Against Cancer's annual gala dinner.

The black tie event on November 6, at the Merchant Adventurers Hall in York starts at 7pm and features a traditional four course dinner followed by speaches from Andrew Raftery, a much acclaimed after dinner speaker who is a retired consultant transplant surgeon from Sheffield, and the former Captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England fast bowler.

Darren was the spearhead of England’s bowling attack through much of the 1990s and is England’s highest wicket taker in one day internationals.

The popularity of this event over the years has raised York Against Cancer £60,000 which has gone towards providing vital cancer services in York and the surrounding area.

One of the most successful services the charity provides is a daily minibus transport service which takes York and patients from the surrounding areas to St James Hospital in Leeds where they have to go for radiotherapy treatments.

York Against Cancer has run a free service for eight years and now the minibus needs replacing. This year’s aim is to raise enough money to buy a new minibus and to cover the running costs for the next five years.

Chairman, Steve Leveson, said: “Our minibus is such an invaluable service, it needs to be reliable as it needs to run every day in all weathers and the time has come to replace our existing minibus."

Julie Russell, general manager, said: “Every penny that is raised locally is spent locally. By supporting the Yorkshire Gala Dinner you will be ensuring the continuation of our much appreciated minibus service. Together we can make a difference”.

Tickets are £65 and are available from the York Against Cancer office on 01904 764466.