Crook Rotary Club hopes to form links with its Indian counterparts to help leprosy victims in the city of Nagpur.

Leah Pattison, of Frosterley, has been working in Nagpur for some years, treating women and children with leprosy and battling against the prejudice they face.

Crook Rotary Club has pledged to back her charity, called Start and help it raise the £25,000 needed to build a clinic and staff it with trained leprosy workers.

One of the group's first fund-raising ventures will be a Race Night on April 27, at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club. Tickets cost £5, including pie and pea supper, and doors open 7pm.

For tickets contact Michael Pulling on (01388) 603020 or Tom Hardy on (01388) 766976