ONE of Christie's youngest fundraisers is now officially part of the team - after celebrating her 16th birthday.

Sarah Ross, a pupil from Bury Grammar School, decided she wanted to do all she could to help Europe's largest cancer treatment and research centre when her grandmother passed away from the disease seven years ago.

However, because she was only a child, Sarah had to be satisfied with helping out her mum Pauline, who is a member of Christie's Bolton and Bury fundraising group, and her older brother, Adrian.

Over the past few years she has raised thousands for Christie's by helping organise school quizzes, toast sales and lots of other events.

She has even helped out by donning the charity's mascot costume, Christie Bear.

Now she's turned 16, Sarah, who lives in the Sunnybank area of Bury, is no longer restricted by her age and can organise her own money-raising events.

Sarah said: "Christie's is such a wonderful place and they really looked after my gran when she was poorly. I've been helping ever since, and now I'm 16 I can't wait to get started doing some proper fundraising of my own!"

Sarah is so eager to help the Christie team she is even giving up some of her school holidays to gain some work experience in the fundraising office.

Jacky Plant, Christie regional appeals officer, said: "Sarah is our little star.

"She's been helping us out since she was small and we're so pleased she can now become an official fundraiser and I'm sure there'll be no stopping her

"She's always been very obliging and we're looking forward to working with her even more in the future."