A group of fundraisers supporting a leukaemia charity which helped their friend through treatment are just a few weeks away from smashing the £30,000 mark.

People close to Josie Buckley started raising money for the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2010.

The charity is based at Ward Seven of Bradford Royal Infirmary where Josie, 50, was treated.

Since August 2011 the group has raised almost £30,000 and hopes a sponsored 10k run in York on Sunday and a fun day on Sunday, August 25, will take them over the milestone.

For the last two years Shirley Taylor, 49, has done 10k races in Leeds, York and Hull.

“This year I’ve managed to persuade some others to come and do the York run,” she said.

“The idea behind it is that it will grow, that next year there will be more people willing to do it and the year after more again. We’re hoping to keep making it bigger and better.

“We couldn’t do it without the support we get. Everybody’s just so kind and supportive.”

Shirley, of Old Road, Horton Bank Top, Bradford, and Josie have been friends since primary school.

“It was a shock when she was diagnosed for everybody,” said Shirley, adding that Josie, of Wibsey, was doing well.

“But everybody rallied round and tried to think of something they could do. We wanted to put something back because they all worked so hard for her on Ward Seven.”

Josie’s friends also arranged a Christmas service in Saltaire and charity calendar to raise money.

Shirley, who has worked in the BRI coffee shop for ten years, said she was hoping the festive fundraiser would be repeated this year.

“We’re just trying to keep it going year in, year out,” she said.

The charity was established by the parents and friends of Annette Fox, a Bradford girl who died of leukaemia in 1980 aged 17.

l The fun day is planned for August 25 at Wibsey Rugby Club playing fields. It will include a donkey derby, donkey rides, stalls, music, a beer tent, face painting and bouncy castles.