AN EAST YORKSHIRE production company will be setting the stage at fundraising events across the region after sounding out a contract with Cancer Research UK.

SHMS, based at Barmby Moor, near Pocklington, has secured the contract to produce the sound stage for 18 Race for Life and Get Muddy events in Yorkshire this year.

The order was won by the firm after it successfully completed work on nine events for the charity last year.

As a result of Cancer Research contract SHMS has pledged to invest in new equipment over the coming year.

It will be working with five additional local technicians to produce the Race for Life Events, which are due to take place in June and July.

Simon Hudson, managing director of SHMS, said: “We are extremely proud to be involved with Cancer Research UK and have worked on nine of their events in 2013.

“I was shocked initially when approached by the events team at Cancer Research to produce 21 events for next year; that’s more than 53,000 women raising money for cancer research in the Yorkshire region.”

Sarah Threadgall, from Cancer Research Yorkshire region, said SHMS was chosen as a main supplier for 2014 off the back of its “excellent” project delivery last year.

She said: “We used SHMS at six Cancer Research UK Race for Life events in the north region in 2013 because the company delivered an excellent pre-event and on-the-day service.

“The team are reliable and dedicated which makes working with them a pleasure and the sound system equipment they provide is high quality and performs flawlessly.”

Mr Hudson added: “The sound systems used are state of the art and have the latest digital amplifiers to reduce the amount of electricity needed to power them.

“This in turn reduces the carbon footprint of the events that SHMS produce in line with the company’s continual work towards BS8901, a British standard for producing sustainable and environmentally conscious events.”

As well as the commercial aspect of the contract for SHMS the York Race for Life event also has a personal significance.

Mr Hudson said: “My mother passed away in 2007 from cancer.

“A year earlier we were so proud to cheer my mum on as she completed the race for life in York after just having her treatment.”