by Mike LaycockTHE Queen Mother is backing plans for a PMS awareness day in memory of a North Yorkshire woman who died tragically.

She has given a Crown Derby bon-bon dish to be auctioned at a charity night organised by the Ripon parents of Sarah Beynon-Fletcher, who died last year in a fume-filled car.

Sarah's parents, Barbara and Fred Parkin, have been touched by an accompanying letter sent by Lady-in-Waiting Angela Oswald, saying: "I am to convey to you and your family the Queen Mother's sincere sympathy on the tragic death of your daughter..."The gift... will bring with it the Queen Mother's very best wishes for the success of your fundraising efforts."

Other gifts for the auction include a Middlesbrough flag, signed by manager Bryan Robson, a rugby ball signed by the Bradford Bulls, an autographed programme from Wasps RUFC signed by the England captain and a pair of tickets to any Harlequins home game for next season.

Mr and Mrs Parkin want to improve awareness in North Yorkshire about Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, among both health care professionals and members of the public.

They say Sarah's personality changed dramatically after undergoing an appendix operation two years ago. Having been a bubbly, happy woman, she became anxious and depressed.

And they believe her depression was exacerbated each month by PMS, eventually leading her to take her own life at the age of 23.An inquest into her death last summer is still pending.

The couple are raising funds for the National Association for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, with the money paying for the awareness day to be staged at Ripon Leisure Centre on June 6.

Information about the condition will be available from experts in the field, and the event will also be attended by counsellors and practitioners in alternative medicine.

All tickets have been sold for the charity night at the University College of Ripon and York St John on April 18, but Mrs Parkin says anyone wanting one of the auction items can send written bids to her beforehand at 2 Gallows Hill, Ripon, H64 1RF.

l For further information on the awareness day, contact 01765 600236 (evenings only).

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