Little bags of luxuries and everyday essentials will brighten up the days of terminally-ill patients in Bradford thanks to a project set up in memory of a “generous and giving” mum.

Sally Bean – mum to six-year-old Maisie – battled pancreatic cancer for two-and-a-half years before she died in December 2010, her husband Richard said.

During her final days in hospital she was running a high temperature and a fan in her room was causing hair to blow across her face.

A half-hour long hunt for a hair grip to make his wife more comfortable upset Richard and led to her friend coming up with the idea of putting together items in “Sally’s Little Bags of Comfort” to make things easier for terminally-ill patients and their families.

“It’s these tiny little things that make it really frustrating and difficult – when the last thing you want to worry about is things like that,” said Richard, of Sheffield.

“We decided we would ask for donations and we’d get some bags together and drop them off, and it has snowballed.”

The bags contain practical items like hairgrips, and goods including lip balms, notelets and memory bags for children. Richard said he aimed to deliver 250 bags to hospitals and had decided to come to Bradford after receiving a £2,000 donation from Yorkshire Building Society, which is based in the city.

About a dozen bags were donated to the palliative care team at Bradford Teaching Hospitals yesterday, which will be distributed to dying patients and their families.

Specialist registrar in palliative medicine Clare Rayment said: “What Richard, Maisie and their families are doing in Sally’s memory for not just our patients in Bradford, but for many others across the country, is amazing.

“We hope that the bags will bring some comfort to patients nearing the end of their lives, as well as their families.”

Each year, the palliative care team treats around 600 patients in need of end-of-life care.

Bev Cox, corporate responsibility manager for Yorkshire Building Society, said: “We are very proud to have been able to make this donation to a truly remarkable charity that does a wonderful job in providing comfort to families going through some very tough times.”

For more information, visit sallyslittlebagofcomfort.co.uk.