A CHRISTMAS celebration in aid of a Wythenshawe Hospital-based breast cancer charity has raised £9,000 to help protect future generations.

Prevent Breast Cancer, which is the UK’s only charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of the disease, hosted its annual festive concert on December 1 at Manchester Cathedral.

Altrincham-based crowd-pleasers the Little Belters opened the concert with a comical take on a traditional nativity. Their adult counterparts, The Absolute Belters, also performed a set, with new group The Teen Belters putting on a comedy sketch.

Returning to the stage this year was 17-year-old Alex Lees, who performed a selection of Christmas songs,

Adding to the line-up for the first time were Darius, an electric violinist who opened both acts, and The Affetside Choir.

Meanwhile, Altrincham-based The Music Place and The Nightingale Choir – a group of doctors, nurses, volunteers and NHS staff – returned to show off their vocal talents.

Prevent Breast Cancer concert veterans Rock Choir rounded off proceedings with a set of festive favourites.

Nikki Barraclough, executive director at Prevent Breast Cancer, said: “The past year has been a pivotal one for Prevent Breast Cancer. Following our rebrand in 2016, we’ve been busy engaging with new audiences to spread our very important message that prevention is better than cure. Our aim is to create a future that is free from breast cancer, but we rely solely on donations to make this happen.

“That’s why events like our annual Christmas concert are so important and we’re overwhelmed with the generosity of those who came along.

"It was a joy to host the evening along with our events manager, Suzanna Dhawan. Every year, the concert signals for us that the festive season has truly begun and it really is our favourite event. This year’s celebration didn’t disappoint and we’d like to thank everyone who performed for their cracking routines, as well as all those who helped to put it together to make the night such a success.”

Sponsored by Mr Flavour Events, the concert also featured a festive market place, featuring cupcakes and sweet treats from Eat Me Drink Me, handmade signs and plaques from Rustic Plank and ladies’ fashions from It’s Good Ethical Boutique.

Scope Events, a group of Event Management students from Manchester Metropolitan University, also had a games stall, the proceeds of which will go towards putting on another fundraising event for Prevent Breast Cancer as part of their course.