THE Aagrah restaurant chain has donated £20,000 to a cancer charity’s base in Shipley.

The Shipley-based restaurant business raised the money for Macmillan Cancer Support from its annual business dinner.

The funds raised will be used to support people from across the UK affected by cancer through funding essential services, including the cancer support line based at the charity’s offices in The Waterfront, Salts Mill Road.

The centre, which officially opened in January 2012, employs 150 people and is the charity’s biggest site in the UK, outside of London.

Charity representatives received the donation yesterday and said they were grateful of the cash injection.

Julia Featherstone, 54, of Eccleshill, who works as financial guide at Macmillan’s Shipley site, will undergo treatment for ovarian cancer later this month. It is the third time she has been diagnosed with this form of cancer, which was initially diagnosed six years ago.

She said: “It is a big boost for this centre. It is a hub for all sorts of things here.

“It’s really important to get these types of donations.

“This will help us to continue to keep our services going.

“If we can continue to receive funding our work can carry on. We are available to continue to offer support.

“I’m a cancer patient myself. At the centre we offer people emotional support and financial guidance.

“It can be a difficult time when people are diagnosed with cancer.”

Aagrah is a family-owned business that was set up 37 years ago and now employs 450 staff. It is the UK and Europe’s largest Kashmiri restaurant business.

It currently has 15 branches across Yorkshire, including in Thornbury and Shipley.

The company’s annual business dinner attracted more than 800 guests when it was held at Leeds Arena in October.

The event, which attracted business leaders and executives, raised a total of £130,000.

Guest speakers included Bradford Council Leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity.

Mohammed Aslam, managing director Aagrah Group, said his firm were delighted to give the donation to the charity’s Shipley office.

He said: “Macmillan Cancer Support are this year’s main beneficiary charity for the Aagrah business dinner held October.

“Macmillan are a great charity doing tremendous work, we’re delighted to be able to support them.”

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