Westhoughton Greyhound Racing

Rod and Louise Eccles, the tenants of the greyhound racing track at Westhoughton, wanted to use their facilities and contacts to celebrate Rod's recovery from cancer treatment, so they teamed up with CANtreat, a registered cancer charity specialising in improving the environment for NHS cancer patients receiving treatment in hospitals in the north west, to organise a Charity Race Night on Sunday 3rd June which was attended by 300 people.

Local businesses sponsored 14 races and dogs were entered from all over the country for this special event. Tickets for a Grand Raffle with 40 prizes were sold over a number of weeks to the regulars at the Greyhound track and friends and family members also sold lots of tickets. First prize was a week's holiday in a cottage in South Wales, donated by Louise's father and there was a signed shirt and pennant donated by Bolton Wanderers amongst other great prizes.

When the first raffle prize was drawn the winner donated the prize back to be auctioned! This raised the magnificent sum of £310! The auction winner, at the end of the evening donated the prize to CANtreat to provide a week's holiday for a cancer sufferer in greater need than himself! As a result a family have just returned from South Wales having had a holiday they could not have otherwise afforded, since the sufferer has been off work due to his illness. Further prizes were also returned and auctioned including an electric scooter and a case of wine.

A fantastic fun night was had by all, the success of which prompted Rod to announce that it would become an annual event!

The proceeds from the night totalled £4000 and were donated to CANtreat at 1 pm on Tuesday 19th June at Westhoughton Greyhound Racing Track.