Brian Brownsett will forever be grateful for the care his wife received at Bradford’s Marie Curie Hospice.

Before her death Phyllis spent three weeks in the Leeds Road hospice in summer 2013, and then from September to October that year.

“They were absolutely brilliant, the care was amazing,” he says. “I could not have asked for more. They are such caring and wonderful people.”

Marie Curie Hospice costs £3.6million a year to run - around £10,000 every day - with around 40 per cent of the funding coming from Bradford and Airedale Primary Care Trust. The remainder has to be found by the hospice itself.

To thank the hospice and its team of staff and volunteers, Brian, who lives in Oakenshaw, began to raise funds as soon as he could. Now retired, the then transport manager was at the time working on an account with the confectioner Thornton’s, and managed to raise more than £2,500 from an Easter egg raffle.

He also organised a charity fun week at Wibsey Liberal Club where his brother David is a steward, with activities including a car boot sale, table top sale, bowling and snooker competitions. “We are going to try and make it an annual event,” he says.

When he stopped working, Brian decided to help in other, practical ways, driving people to and from the hospice. “I thought that I could do more. I collect them from home and after they have spent a few hours at the hospice I drive them back.”

Brian is full of praise for the home care that Phyllis received both from Marie Curie, Bradford Royal Infirmary and Bradford Council, describing it as “outstanding.” He also raised funds for BRI’s cancer ward where Phyllis was treated before going to the hospice.

Back on his feet after a recent hip replacement, Brian is raring to get started again. “I have had eight weeks off and can’t wait to go back,” he says. “I have already been in touch with them.”

His son and daughter have also helped to raise funds, and he plans to involve his grandson who is staying with him at present.

“We need to raise so much money ourselves,” says Marie Curie community fundraiser Sharon Link. “It is something we could not do without help from our volunteers. We have only a small fundraising team covering large area.

“People are often shocked when they hear how much it costs to run the hospice every day, many have no idea.”

Patients at the hospice suffer from a range of terminal illnesses including cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and heart disease.

The hospice’s various income streams include The Great Daffodil Appeal in March. Collecting tins in shops and bars raised around £19,000 from Bradford, Calderdale and Craven.

Last year’s daffodil collections raised around £35,000 in the same area.

Other sources include fundraising events by individuals or groups of people. “They organise their own fundraising events for us, such as car boot sales or golf days. Some people will take part in a run, such as the London Marathon. They have generally had experience of the hospice or the nursing service at home with a loved one, and then they will approach us to raise funds. This is a big chunk of our income.

“Some people do it themselves and others will get together with friends and do a big event. A group may do a coffee morning and raise a couple of hundred pounds or a few hundred pounds could be donated from a golf day.

“A one-off event or annual event can be part of the grieving process - to say thank you. Others help with collecting tins for the Great Daffodil Appeal or as volunteer drivers. “People can continue to help us in different ways,” says Sharon. “Brian has helped us with Great Daffodil collections, looking after collecting tins, changing them over, finding new sites for them and banking the money. He brings in chocolates for the nurses or for tombolas and hampers and raised such a lot at the fun week.”

Those who approach the charity with an idea that develops into an event can be supplied with branded materials including collecting tins, T-shirts, buckets and balloons.

“Some people come to reception and say they would like to so this or that, but don’t know what to do. We can get them involved.”

Companies also fundraise for the hospice, some selecting it as their charity of the year. “Sometimes, if they have lost a colleague they will carry out an event for us.”

Says Brian: “They go beyond the call of duty, they really do - there is not one person there who is not an angel.”

For more information contact the fundraising office on 01274 337036 or email Sharon.link@mariecurie.org.uk