Christmas is fast approaching and to kick-start the festive season Bolton Cancer Voices accompanied by special guests Besses o' th' Barn Band are inviting you to join them in the Victoria Hall, Bolton on Saturday 7th.

The event promises a night filled with all the wonderful well-known and loved carols and Christmas music that makes a welcome reappearance in our lives at this special time of year; so why not swap a night in front of the television for a night of live and lively entertainment infused with Christmas spirit, which the whole family can enjoy?

Joining the Choir on stage will be other cancer patients and cancer survivors, professionals whose role involves the treatment, care or support of cancer patients and singers from local Choirs in the area.

Karen Elliott, Chair of Bolton Cancer Voices said: 'We are all really looking forward to 'Jingle Bell Sing-A-Long', it will be an awesome event to be a part of; there's something very special about singing Christmas music with a Brass Band and we are extremely lucky to have such a fabulous Band as Besses joining us. We held the first rehearsal of the massed Choir last week and the sound was phenomenal; it was quite an emotional experience! We really hope that the public gets behind us and makes this a 'sell-out' event; for the performers to look out on to an auditorium filled to capacity would be such a tribute to all the hard work that has gone in to preparing for the night. It will be a truly great way to kick-start the festive season.â

Christmas has come early for Bolton Cancer Voices in more ways than one after hearing they have successfully secured financial backing for the concert from the Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, which is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery. The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 they have awarded close to £6bn.

Karen said: 'To have been deemed worthy of receiving such a grant at a time when there are so very many worthy causes vying for attention is the icing on the cake; it will make a big difference to us and mean more money from the concert can be ploughed back in to running and December, 6.45pm for a seasonal sing-a-long.

Developing the Choir and funding our activities, as we don't charge subscriptions to our members to ensure the Choir is accessible to all. We really hope that the Choir and what they are doing will help and inspire others whose lives are touched by cancer.

The Treasurer and I have only just received formal notification of this grant and so this will come as exciting news to everyone.'

Tickets for 'Jingle Bell Sing-A-Long' priced £5-00 are available from the Albert Halls Box Office on 01204 334400 / www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk and as an early Christmas present to their supporters organizers are offering a FREE ticket for every 10 tickets purchased in a single transaction.