JOANNA Ripley is hoping to laugh her way to the bank - and all in aid of The Big Issue North and her inspirational late father.

She is gambling that her "cackle" will tickle people's fancy so much that they'll dip into their pockets and buy it.

Her father, Allan, would have celebrated his 84th birthday on May 7 this year, "World Laughter Day" and being a man whose motto was "leave 'em laughing" Joanna wants to honour his memory by raising £5,000 with the sound of her own guffaw.

Joanna of Neville Street, Skipton, is to launch her fund-raiser on "World Laughter Day" and at the same time set up the Allan Ripley Foundation in his memory.

Allan died in December 2013 aged 80.

It is a not for profit social enterprise aimed at providing passports, clothing and back-to-work kits for people and to support employment for excluded groups and others facing challenges in their return to work.

She said: "My dad was an avid supporter of many charities - he had a real soft spot for the Big Issue magazine which provides a way for the homeless to make a living and start to rebuild their lives with dignity.

"My family and I miss dad every single day so I wanted to find a way to perpetuate his kindness.

"He was a very humble northerner, first a cobbler, then an aid worker with the Baptist Church Missionaries providing help to Angolan refugees in the Congo.

"On his return to Skipton in the 1960’s he married my mother, Daphne and became a much loved postman in the Yorkshire Dales for more than 30 years."

Allan was a well known character around Skipton with his one pedalled push bike which he had adapted to accommodate his "straight" leg caused by TB as a small child.

He was was a keen sportsman and president of Whinfield Bowling Club and played in the Keighley Table Tennis League for many years.

A spokesman for Big Issue North said : "We are very touched by Joanna's commitment - it's a phenomenal thing to do."

So to listen to her laugh and help Joanna raise the money log on to allanripleyfoundation.org and down load it for 99p or find Just Giving Allan Ripley.