THE family behind an annual charity tractor run has won a national award from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

The Sleight family from Etton, near Beverley, have held the Etton charity tractor run for eight years, raising more than £12,500 for charity – £5,700 of which was donated to RABI.

The family has farmed in Etton since 1990 and despite Mr Sleight's ill health, which resulted in a brain operation and cancer treatment last year, still led out 80 tractors to raise more than £3,000 for charity.

At RABI's recent annual meeting in Oxford, John and Margaret Sleight, and their daughter Jenny, were presented with The Hunter Farm Challenge Cup by NFU deputy president Minette Batters.

The cup is awarded for 'on farm' events that raise money and greater awareness of the charity.

RABI is a grant-making charity which helps farming people of all ages who are in financial difficulty. It gave £1.93m in grants in 2014 and helped people claim £378,000 in state benefits.

Support ranges from helping people to pay utility bills and council tax arrears, rent and bankruptcy fees, to paying for funerals, heating, clothing and even food.

Sally Conner, RABI regional manager for the North East, said: “Not only do John and Margaret organise the Tractor Run every year for RABI and the Air Ambulance, they are passionate about helping others in need and attend nearly all our fundraising events.

"Proving it’s in the blood, daughter Jenny Sleight helps with the Tractor Run and is a member of RABI East Yorkshire Committee and family member Catherine Walton, husband and sons are always around to lend a hand."

Visit rabi.org.uk or call RABI’s confidential helpline on 0300 303 7373.