A DAUGHTER whose mother spent her last days being cared for at a hospice is continuing the fundraising work she started.

Debbie Hughes and her sister-in-law Carrie Broadbent promised Elaine Reardon they would support the Marie Curie Hospice Bradford which cared for her last year.

Mrs Reardon spent two weeks in an induced coma and was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) before being referred to the Marie Curie Hospice for rehabilitation

"We were surprised that mum was sent to the hospice as we thought it was just for people with cancer," said Mrs Hughes, of Idle.

"Mum attended the Breathe Better Group at the Day Therapy Unit in the hospice. The hospice physiotherapist was fantastic but suggested that mum would benefit from being admitted to the in patient unit of the hospice. Initially, mum spent two weeks on the ward before she was able to return home."

In September 2013, Elaine was moved back to the hospice for eight weeks.

Miss Broadbent said: "All of the staff at the hospice were brilliant, not just with mum but the whole family. From the warm welcome you receive when you arrive, we felt like all the staff would go to the ends of the earth to help.

"When Debbie and I were unable to get to the hospice someone stayed with mum, even though her shift had finished, until we arrived so mum wasn’t on her own.”

Mrs Reardon's grandchildren, Poppy-Lois, Brooke and Amelia, often visited the hospice and loved playing with a doll's house there. As family meant everything to her, the nurses moved the toy into her room so she could spend as much time with her grandchildren.

She died in January this year.

Miss Broadbent, who lives in Tong, said: “Elaine was trying to raise money for the hospice whilst she was staying on the ward and she kept making us promise that we would get involved too.

"Debbie and I have been fundraising through Kinder Haven nurseries where we work. The children and families at the nurseries have all been so enthusiastic about supporting Marie Curie, we’ve already organised wear yellow days, raffles and bun sales.

"Debbie and I have joined the Idle Fundraising Group to carry on raising funds for the hospice as it means so much to us to carry on supporting it in memory of Elaine.”

The group has raised more than £1,300 since it started a little more than three months ago and this Saturday it will host its next fundraiser, a Blooming Great Tea Party at Idle Baptist Church.

The Bradford Marie Curie Hospice provides end of life care to terminally ill patients and support for their families, completely free of charge. It costs over £3.5m per year to run its Bradford hospice.

Saturday's Tea Party takes place from 1pm until 4pm at Idle Baptist Church on Bradford Road. Entry costs £3 which includes a slice of cake and cup of tea or coffee.

* To get involved, e-mail helen.rowlands@mariecurie.org.uk or call (01274) 337034.