Earlier this month, on Friday 8 April, over 120 people packed into the Paxton Stand at Sedgefield Racecourse to enjoy a two-course lunch and to support Spennymoor-based Bringing Back a Smile Charity.

The charity is raising funds to help pay the remaining balance off their charity caravan, situated at Primrose Valley in North Yorkshire, which enables them to send poorly adults and children to breaks away with their loved ones to help give a little respite from gruelling treatments.

Charity founder Kevin Hill said of the event:

“We have been running this event since 2017 and have had some fantastic days at the racecourse for charity.
“But this one went beyond our expectations, raising £4,798.
“It’s a fantastic total which will now enable us to pay off the entire remaining balance on our charity caravan – not bad for a little charity from Spennymoor!
“It’s down to our flagship sponsors, Hartlepool Property Management, Wealth of Advice in Durham, AKV Cladding in Shildon and EFL Fabrication in West Auckland that we have been able to reach our goal.
“I am eternally grateful not only to them but all our supporters who, on the day, put their hands in their pockets to buy raffle tickets for some fantastic donated prizes.
“We have already had lots of interest for next year and hopefully another sell out is on the cards.
“I would like to personally thank Michelle Hutchinson, one of our staff members who overlooked the running of the raffles, and all the management and staff who made us feel very welcome.”