Tragedy has thrown together teacher Nessa Chacksfield and hospital pharmacist Debbie Pascoe.

Both women have lost close relatives to leukaemia. But out of their sadness they have formed an organisation that in just 12 months has raised £6,000 for leukaemia research.

Nessa, 47, of Bradley near Skipton, lost her twin brother Rory Simm to hairy cell leukaemia in August 2001.

Doctors switched off Rory's life support machine on the day his second baby daughter was born to his wife Niamh. The newborn baby Ciara was laid in his arms before he died.

"She was only a few hours old and we put her with Rory," said Nessa. "He was unconscious but we wanted her to be with her father. It was a very moving moment.

"I still find it difficult to believe he has gone.

"The tragedy is that the type of leukaemia he had is very treatable - 90 per cent of sufferers pull through."

But Rory, who also had a three-year-old daughter Aoife, caught an infection and was unable to fight it off.

It was while Nessa was grieving that she found some solace talking to Debbie, also of Bradley, who had lost her nine-year-old sister in 1977.

Debbie said: "I was just 12. It was difficult to take on board and I shut a lot of it out. My mother and father threw themselves into fundraising and formed the Mid Cornwall branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund. And 25 years later they are still involved and have raised £100,000."

Together, Nessa and Debbie decided to hold a fundraising dance for Leukaemia Res-earch.

The event, held in Bradley Village Hall, was such a success that it has kicked off a number of other events over the last 12 months.

It also led to the formation of the Skipton & District Branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund.

The fund has a core of about 12 members with Dr Ann Cuthbert, consultant haematologist at Airedale General Hospital at Eastburn near Keighley, as president.

Their next event is a dance - including salsa - on Saturday, March 8, at St Thomas's Church, Sutton-in-Craven.

And members have also launched a 100 Club at £1 a month for membership.

For more information about the event or the 100 Club, ring Nessa on (01535) 636718.