CHARITY panto players have a special reason to make their show a success when they take to the stage later this month.

The Blue Light Theatre Company, which includes members of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, regularly supports York Against Cancer through its annual show each January.

Last year emergency ambulance technician Darran Buckley, 55, had chemotherapy and extensive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer before recovering at the charity’s luxury respite centre with his partner Katie Shaylor.

His experience made the players determined to raise as much money as possible.

Perri-Ann Barley, who wrote this year’s panto, Wonderland, and is also an ambulance worker, said: “You do these fundraisers and you don’t really see what happens with the money.

“It’s a lot of work but everybody enjoys it, then you do the cheque presentation but when you actually hear what happens to the money it really brings it all home to you.”

Darran, of Hambleton near Selby, said the free short break meant a great deal to both him and Katie.

“I had so many painkillers that I often didn’t know just what was happening, but Katie saw it all and I think sometimes your family suffer more than you do yourself,” he said.

Wonderland tells the story of how the King and Queen of Hearts threaten plans for a Wonderland’s Got Talent! and features many of the characters of Lewis Carroll’s children’s classics.

It will be performed at Acomb Working Men’s Club in Front Street, Acomb, on January 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7.30pm plus a January 19 matinee at 1pm.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £5 for children.

The profits will be split equally between York Against Cancer and Motor Neurone Disease Association (York).

Tickets are available to the general public by phoning 07933 329654 or by visiting the website bluelight-theatre.co.uk.