I INVITE your readers to brew up a nice cup of tea, take part in National Tea Week - and help us raise £50,000 for vital arthritis research.

The Arthritis Research Campaign, a leading research charity, is holding its annual brew-up on June 7 to 13, and we are encouraging local groups, clubs and sociable individuals to host fundraising tea parties.

Co-op 99 Tea are providing free tea bags to help everything go with a swing.Tea Week is one of the ARC's biggest annual fundraising events.

It has raised thousands of pounds to further research into the cause of and cure for arthritis and rheumatic disease, which effects around eight million people in Britain.

Arthritis can make life a misery, leading to stiff and inflamed joints, and for many sufferers, something as simple as boiling a kettle to make a cup of tea is an impossibility. Thanks to our efforts, great strides have been made in arthritis treatment and drug therapies.

To hold a party during National Tea Week ring me on 01670 821146 for a special information pack.

Christine Baker,

Arthritis Research Campaign,

Melrose House,

East Sleekburn,

Bedlington, NE22 7AT.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.