FUNDRAISERS at Huddersfield cancer charity The Laura Crane Trust could be the best in Britain.

They are celebrating after they were nominated for The Guardian Charity Awards.

The trust, the only UK charity to specifically fund research into cancer in teenagers and young adults, is one of just 35 shortlisted for the prize.

There were 489 entries for the awards this year. Winners will each receive £1,000, a new PC and a package of media services from the Media Trust.

Six winners will be chosen from the shortlist by a panel of judges including Sarah Brown, Jane Asher and Dame Suzi Leather.

Jacquie Roeder who founded the charity after her daughter Laura died in May 1996, just two weeks after her 17th birthday, said the nomination was “wonderful news”.

She said: “It’s very hard for charities at the moment because people are pulling their horns in, so it would be wonderful to pull this one off.”

Mrs Roeder said her initial target had been to raise £10,000 per-year so she was very proud to have raised £1.25m over the last decade, more than ten times the amount planned.

She added: “There’s only 23 specialist young persons cancer units in the UK so some people have a long, long way to go.

“We buy them equipment such as laptops, books, DVD players and art materials just to help them forget even some of the time the horrible truth of why they are there.

“We do what we can to keep spirits up and we ship presents at Christmas to people who have to be in hospital over Christmas.”

The trust has also helped to fund an activities co-ordinator for Jimmy’s in Leeds and hospitals in Sheffield.

David Brindle, chair of the judging panel, said: “Yet again we have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of entries for the Guardian charity awards. To select just six winners will be a hugely difficult task.”

The awards, now in their 17th year, are open to registered charities with an annual income of less than £1m.

The Laura Crane Trust is holding an autumn ball on October 31. For more information contact their office on 01484 510013.