A support group for Manorlands Hospice has totted up 20 years of charity success and £75,000.

The Baildon Support Group for Manorlands Hospice started in July, 1993, after Susan Fretwell saw an appeal from the charity in the Telegraph & Argus.

As a nurse Mrs Fretwell appreciated the work of the hospice, in Hebden Road, Oxenhope, and her and neighbours Diane Bollen and Jenny Bolshaw started the group.

Their first event was a canal trip to launch the team, which holds five or six events a year to help the 60-year-old hospice with its £2.4 million yearly running costs.

Cake sales, a garden trail, chocolate making demonstrations, flag days and a popular annual Pudding and Plonk night have added to the £75,000 total, with £530 collected at an afternoon anniversary tea at the weekend.

Retired civil servant Mrs Bolshaw said: “A couple of years ago as part of the scarecrow trail we thought we’d put something up to let people know how much they’ve raised. We didn’t have a clue it was that much.”

The group is well supported by businesses, but Mrs Fretwell says organising events is getting more difficult and there are fewer people. At one time there were 15 volunteers, which is now down to eight.

Mrs Fretwell said: “We’re finding it very hard work. We do quite a lot of baking and at the last event we didn’t have time to speak to people who came because we were so busy, and we like to talk to people who come.

“What we would like is certainly for people to join as members of the group, but also if people could be a helper and come to events or help at stalls.

“I think the hospice is essential in this day and age when the NHS is over-stretched. The hospice does an awful lot of work and it’s not just people with cancer, it’s people with terminal illnesses. They also do a lot of work in the community supporting carers.”

Andrew Wood, regional fundraiser for Manorlands, which has been going for 60 years, said: “We have a lot of irons in a lot of fires, lots of different funds, but one of the strengths is the support groups. That’s a really safe income and we’re really blessed with our 11 support groups. When you add all the funds up together from the groups, it comes to about £50,000 to £60,000 a year.”

Anyone interested can call Mrs Fretwell on (01274) 580912.