An Ilkley-based charity has made more than £76,000 in a year of celebration and fundraising, it has been announced.

And it means Acorn have now collected more than £620,000 for research into scleroderma disease at Leeds General Infirmary and for people with dementia and their carers in the Ripon and Harrogate area in just 11 years.

During the past 12 months, the Acorn-sponsored 100k Bike Ride raised more than £20,000, while the 10th Birthday Ball at Harrogate Ladies College collected £42,000.

The Acorn committee was founded in 1999 by Louise Hanen whose father, Luc, had been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

The charity divides funds equally between helping people with dementia and research into scleroderma, a disease that attacks mainly in their mid-years and for which there is no cure.

The money raised by Acorn has helped to buy equipment and fund a research fellow at LGI, and the department of rheumatology at Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds includes an Acorn Room where patients are advised on their treatment.

Acorn’s contribution to the care of people with dementia includes kickstarting a programme for younger (working age) people with dementia in Harrogate, providing the initial funds for the development of a befriending service and providing support and activities for people with dementia helping them to live at home for longer.

The next Acorn event is the annual golf day at Oakdale Golf Club, Harrogate, on Thursday, September 9.

This year’s ball at Harrogate Ladies College on Saturday, November 20, is already sold out, but anyone interested in sponsoring the event or finding details about future events can call Louise Hanen on 01423 734876 or go to acorncharity.org.uk.