MEMBERS of the Helen Marie Friends fund-raising group have paid tribute to the work of its patron Gladys Ambrose, the Brookside actress who died recently after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 67.

Marjorie Hurst, one of the founding members of Friends, spoke warmly of Gladys' efforts to help them raise money for local charities over the years she was involved with them. "She first got involved with Helen Marie Friends when we organised a charity football match which some of the Brookside actors played. That was about 12 years ago and when she heard about our work she said she would like to help out herself. We were all very sad to hear of her death and on behalf of all the members of Helen Marie Friends, I would like to pay tribute to all her hard work over the years."

One of Gladys' last fund-raising efforts was helping to raise £4,000 to buy a PH Monitor for the children's ward of Whiston Hospital. This machine, the first of its kind in the St Helens and Knowsley area, will be used in the treatment of youngsters who suffer from Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux, a condition which affects their ability to swallow.

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