A DETERMIND grandmother has helped to raise thousands of pounds for medical research through a night of music.

The concert in Bolton helped to raise £8,500 towards research into muscular dystrophy.

It was the twelfth musical evening organised by Christine Ogden, from Smithills, and featured performances by the Parkside Colliery Male Voice Choir and 19-year-old Bolton violinist Matthew Chadbond, from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Mrs Ogden, aged 75, has been helping to raise awareness of the condition after her grandson Alex, aged 15, was diagnosed when he was just 18 months old.

She said: "It was a lovely event and everyone enjoyed it. We had wine and mince pies and there were also plenty of stalls raising money too.

"Matthew played six different pieces, everyone wanted to take him home! He made the violin sing, he was absolutely superb."

"It was hard work to organise but worth it when you see how much profit has been raised. It was one of our best years.

"I would just like to thank everyone for coming along and joining in."

Around 250 people attended the event at Bolton's Bridge Church Centre on Saturday, November 12, with £4,000 raised through concert tickets and donations, and a further £4,500 raised through sponsorship.

Also attending were MP for Bolton West, Chris Green, and the mayors of Horwich, Bury, Blackburn and Salford.

Mrs Ogden added: "I hope through them we can make muscular dystrophy more known to people.

"There are still a lot of people out there who do not know much about it."

Cash raised will be donated towards the work of Professor George Dickson and his team who have developed an innovative technique with the potential to repair the genetic mutation that causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy.