A COMPASSIONATE group of ladies is starting the New Year with a touching gift for Christie Hospital.

The Tender Loving Care (TLC) Ladies Committee was formed in 1996 and to date has raised £160,000 for the cancer charity.

The 16-strong group of women from Prestwich and Whitefield handed over a cheque for £156,490 to Christie's at a recent event at Cheetham Hill Cricket Club. The Zu Zu sale featured unusual objects from abroad.

Since then they have held a bakery demonstration at the cricket club and their total has risen to the £160,000 mark.

The event featured retired Prestwich baker Jack Maurer, formerly of the Swiss Cottage, who showed guests how to bake traditional Jewish bread.

Now approaching their tenth anniversary in May, the TLC volunteers are hoping to boost their total even further with a series of events.

First up is a Virgin Vie make up demonstration on Wednesday, January 18, followed by an evening of bingo in February.

One of the main events in 2006 will be a variety show at the Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester in March which TLC hope will raise £60,000.

So far their fundraising has gone towards various projects at Christie's, including breast and bowel cancer research, and their latest efforts from the show will go specifically towards upgrading facilities to house a new gamma camera and CT scanner for the hospital's Department of Nuclear medicine.

One of the founder members of TLC, Gloria Baker said: "When we started off ten years ago we had no idea we would raise this much money.

"We have been successful so far but we need so much help with our forthcoming variety show. The girls and boys in the show are not professionals but they have worked so hard."

Mrs Baker appealed for local businesses to advertise in the show brochure in order to generate sponsorship.

Commenting on TLC's success, Christie's regional appeals officer Jacky Plant said: "They are just amazing ladies. This is a fabulous total and their efforts help to keep the Christie at the forefront of cancer treatment and research."

For more information on any of the TLC events or to advertise in the show brochure, contact Mrs Baker on (0161) 773 6412.

The variety show will take place on March 5. Tickets are £20 for adults and £15 for children, available from the theatre box office on 0161 237 1413.