A 74-YEAR-OLD retired nurse is among 26 fundraisers who have raised more than £110,000 for Bradford's Marie Curie Hospice by trekking through Sri Lanka.

Liz Madden, of Bingley, and fellow trekkers including some nursing staff at the Maudesley Street hospice set off for the challenge yesterday with a mission to keep funds rolling in.

Sharon Link, a community fundraiser at the Bradford Hospice who is also taking part in the trek, said the money raised so far was a staggering amount.

“I am absolutely blown away by how much has been raised for Marie Curie by the participants taking part in this huge challenge," she said.

"I am trekking with them and feel so privileged to be going with such a fantastic group of people.

"The money raised will pay for 5,550 hours of nursing care. Marie Curie is there for people living with any terminal illness, and their families, and we offer expert care, guidance and support”.

The group will be spending about six to eight hours a day for five days trekking through dense jungle, small villages and ancient cities, covering 208km including a climb on their last day of 5,000 steps up to Sri Pada which is Sri Lanka’s holy mountain reaching a height of 2,239m.

Mrs Madden, who already proved age is no barrier when she successfully tackled the Inca Trail in Peru forMarie Curie at the age of 73, said it was that experience that spurred her on to get involved this time.

She raised £5,000 for charity last time with her South American adventure and was hoping to make more this time round.

Mrs Madden said the epic 26-mile trek to reach Machu Picchu, the mysterious lost city of the Incas, was a lifetime’s experience scaling peaks such as the 4,200m Dead Woman’s Pass. She had been the oldest team member by almost ten years on that challenge.

Before setting off to Sri Lanla, Mrs Madden, who enjoys playing golf to keep in shape, said: "At the time I thought the Inca Trail was the toughest and best thing I've ever attempted and achieved in my life, it was amazing but I'm up for more."

Mrs Madden, who was a district nurse across Bradford for 25 years, working in Eccleshill, Baildon and Barkerend, has supported and collected for Marie Curie for many years, as her mother, Ruby Wood, received care in a Marie Curie hospice on three separate occasions.

To find out more about supporting the Bradford team go to mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/charity-events/overseas-challenges/sri-lanka-trek or call the Marie Curie's events team on 0845 052 4184.