FRIENDS and showbiz colleagues of a popular entertainer who lost his battle against cancer have vowed to carry on his dream of raising £25,000 for Christie Hospital.

Resident compere at Unsworth South Social Club in Whitefield, Ricky Wayne, died from lung cancer in hospital last month.

Following his diagnosis in November, 1999, 59-year-old Ricky, who lived in Bolton with his partner Carole Youd, set out on a mammoth fund-raising campaign and a year later he had reached the half way mark, raising £13,000.

Now, his pals at the Derwent Avenue club on the Hillock Estate, where he worked for more than three years, have organised a charity concert to help raise the rest of Ricky's target.

President of the club, Pat Massey, said: "Our resident trio, who are Dave the drummer, organist Paula and Don the compere who stood in for Ricky when he became too ill to work, have vowed to carry on raising the money in Ricky's name. "They got in touch with fellow artistes on the north west cabaret circuit and were overwhelmed by the response."

Pat said that the concert, to be held at the club on Thursday, March 1, had attracted all the top entertainers who agreed to give their services for free in honour of Ricky, a singer and comedian who had worked the circuit for almost 30 years.

She added: "That just shows how highly thought of Ricky was. He was a smashing fella and helped the committee whenever he could.

"He had a lot of friends both on the circuit and here at the club. Everyone here, and we have 700 members, knew who he was."

Topping the bill is Ricky's life-long friend Sheila Diamond, also Sheila Scott, G. J. Monks, Steve Rowe, Gary Devon, Joe Tilly and Terry Cotta.

Tickets for the event are £2.50, available from the club on 766 5915 or from Pat on 766 2885.

Alternatively you can pay on the door, which will be open from 7pm.

Pat added: "Ricky was well-liked by everyone and every concert he held at the club in aid of Christie's was a sell-out. This one looks likely to be the same."