A NURSE whose career was inspired by the care provided to a friend's dying mum is raising funds for the Bradford hospice where she works.

Adele Starkey, 41, said visiting a friend's mum who had terminal lung cancer at the Marie Curie Hospice in Maudesley Street made her decide then and there that she wanted a career in palliative care.

More than ten years on and she is as dedicated as ever to her caring vocation, helping raise funds for the hospice's work by organising a fun day at the Bulls Head in Baildon on Saturday, June 27, from 2pm - and she is planning on joining other on a trek to Sri Lanka in aid of the hospice this November.

It costs approximately £3.3 million every year to run the hospice caring for patients with terminal illness with £435 covering a 24-hour stay, she said.

Adele, of Baildon, and her friend Helen Bates, whose mum also works at the hospice, have got together to plan the pub fun day and are hoping to get sponsorship help from local businesses offering prizes and lots to bringing in much-needed funds on the day.

She hopes her story of how she became a Marie Curie nurse will inspire people to give their support.

"I started my nurse training in 2004 but before starting my studies in that September, I went with my friend to the hospice to visit her mum who was dying of lung cancer," she said.

"I knew while I was there that this was the place I wanted to work when I qualified. The hospice had an amazing feel about it; it was calming, friendly and surprisingly fun. My friend's mum told us stories of the laughs she had with all the staff."

And she added: "My own mum died when she was 34 so my brothers and I spent a lot of time with our grandparents when we were growing up, we were very close.

"Unfortunately, my grandma was also diagnosed with cancer and spent her final days at the Ardenlea Hospice in Ilkley. My family history was the main reason for going into the nursing field of palliative care.

"To offer patients’ and their families, the care and support at such a devastating time in the lives and to try to make their days a little easier."

In her third year of nurse training she requested a placement at the Marie Curie hospice and was there for the 12 weeks before qualifying and stayed on afterwards as a health care assistant for three months until she got a permanent job at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford.

She had to wait 18 months before a job at the Marie Curie hospice finally came up and she got it - five and half years ago.

Adele said: "I can't think of anywhere else I would want to work. It is still an amazing place. I hope people will support us to keep up the hospice's good work."

Keelham Farm Shop at Thornton, Bradford, will provide burgers and sausages for the fun day barbecue and local bakers Melvyn Davies is supplying the breadrolls.

Any other businesses interested in helping should email helen.bates31@yahoo.co.uk