A massive fundraising drive has been launched by Bradford catalogue giant Grattan.

Members of staff at the company are aiming to raise £100,000 to be divided between the Marie Curie Hospice in Leeds Road and the Bradford Macmillan Cancer Relief fund.

To mark the event staff at the company released 100 balloons yesterday to represent every £1,000 to be raised.

"The majority of nominations we received from staff for selecting a charity requested that we help some form of cancer charity," said Linda Marshall, chairman of the Grattan company charity committee.

"We have picked out two with specific aims to directly help people and their families in our own area dealing with cancer."

If successful, employees at Grattan will help fund 17 additional cancer nurses to work for Marie Curie in the Bradford district and a respite bed for the Bradford Macmillan Nurses.

"Currently, there is nothing like this facility available locally in either hospitals or the hospice," said Emma Lavelle-Gooding, from Macmillan.

"The respite bed supports both parents and carer's needs by offering them a break. We are extremely grateful to Grattan and its employees for helping Macmillan fund such a desperately needed service in the local area," she said.

Last year employees at the company raised £100,000 to help fund five additional cancer specialist nurses for Macmillan.

"I am confident we will reach that target again," said Mrs Marshall.

Pauline Scott, nurse team manager for West Yorkshire at Marie Curie, said: "We are delighted Grattan has selected Marie Curie as its charity.

"The money they raise will fund the whole cost of 17 nurses because the cost is match funded by the NHS."

The nurses will work in the community caring for and support cancer patients and their families.

"Some cancer patients want to spend their last days at home and others want to go into a hospice. Having additional nurses who can work in the community helps us ensure we can give them that choice," she said.

The first fundraising event, a family fun day, takes place this Sunday at the Listerhills Warehouse in Thornton Road, Bradford between noon and 4pm.

Admission is £1 for adults and 50p for children.

Amongst the attractions there will be a balloon race, stalls, sports for children, a games area and a sample sale.