A GROUP who started an appeal for the family of a young cancer victim were stunned to discover that unscrupulous teenagers have been cashing in on the charity.

The organisers of the Ragen Lonsdale Appeal have now sent out a warning to residents not to give money to people collecting door-to-door for the appeal.

A committee was formed several weeks ago with the aim of raising £7,000 to send cancer sufferer Ragen and her family on the holiday of a lifetime to DisneyWorld, Florida.

Ragen, aged six, from Park Avenue, Great Harwood, has been receiving treatment for cancer for the last two years and has already undergone two major operations.

Family and friends decided to start fund-raising and the people of Great Harwood have rallied round to support the appeal.

But the organisers were shocked when they were told youngsters had been collecting money using Ragen's name in the Oak Street area of Rishton.

Wayne Lonsdale, Ragen's uncle, said: "We would just like to make it clear that we are not collecting any money by calling at people's homes. If anyone comes knocking on doors asking for money for the Ragen appeal, people should not give it to them under any circumstances."

A number of charity events have been lined up for the summer, including sponsored head shaves, family discos, charity walks and football matches.

Anybody wanting further information about the appeal should contact Beverly Lonsdale on 01254 876904.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.