Cheque this out

ROYSTON town band handed over their biggest ever charity cheque last Tuesday. The band presented the £900 cheque, raised over Christmas, to two young Royston sisters with a rare life-threatening skin condition. The money, donated to nine-year-old Dana Bowen and her one-year-old sister Lara, will be used to fund research work into harlequin ichthyosis. It will be first time the Bowen family have had enough money donated to fund research into rare condition in which the body produces too much skin. The band decided to donate the money after the two sisters appeared in The Crow and on an ITV television show last October. The band's trombone player, Lisa King, said: "Every year we do all our Christmas playing and lots of carol concerts to raise money for a charity. "Several of us saw the television show last year and we though these children were a really worth while charity, so we decided on them this year." The band have been raising money for charity at Christmas for the last ten years and Mrs King said this is the most they have ever raised. "Last year we raised about £700 - £800, and this year was our best yet, the community of Royston give very generously at Christmas," she said. "I'm confident we can raise more next year, it's choosing the charity that's the hard part." - For information on joining or booking the band, visit their website at www.roystontownband.co.uk or ring Lisa King on 07860163087