Bradford-born actress Natalie Anderson will be a bride again for the day when she hosts a special wedding-themed charity ball to celebrate her 29th birthday.

Natalie, who has just joined Emmerdale as Alicia Gallagher, will host the Brides Dress Revisited Ball for Cancer Research UK.

Joining Natalie will be Emmerdale cast mates and celebrity guests, including Blue’s Anthony Costa. Former Emmerdale star Richard Shelton will be performing as the wedding singer for the evening.

Natalie decided to raise money for Cancer Research UK after taking part in the Bradford Race for Life, which she said was one of the most inspiring and emotional moments of her life. Four days after Race for Life, on June 6, 2008, Natalie married James Shepherd. Natalie said: “I remember thinking how truly lucky we were to have each other and all of our family at our wedding. Only a few days earlier at Race for Life I had been running alongside people who hadn’t been so lucky.

“My beloved granddad was then diagnosed with Lymphoma.”

Natalie also hopes the ball at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, on Sunday, October 24, will raise awareness of Cancer Research UK’s Give in Celebration service.

People can use giveincelebration.org to create their own fundraising web page and ask family and friends to donate to Cancer Research UK instead of, or as well as, buying traditional presents.

Tickets, at £40 a head, are available from the Queens Hotel, Leeds. Call 0113 3917234 or e-mail queensevents@qhotels.com quoting Brides Ball.

For information visit the Brides Dress Revisited Ball Give in Celebration page at giveincele-bration.cancerresearchuk.org/0000195 .