A champagne toast was made to celebrate the creation of a new Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraising group to cover Wibsey and district.

The group has been formed by 47-year-old Carol Wright, of Wibsey, in memory of her husband Peter, who lost his life to cancer last year.

He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2010 and received support from the Marie Curie hospice in Maudsley Street, Bradford, and passed away in room two at the hospice on August 29 last year.

Mrs Wright started the fundraising by securing a donation of £350 from her employer, the home delivery courier Hermes, after she nominated the hospice to be their monthly charity and was picked.

Mrs Wright and her son Lance Paton, who is also a member of the new fundraising group, have also placed a bird table outside room two at the hospice so patients can get pleasure from watching birds feed.

They formally started the new fundraising group this month at Wibsey Conservative Club and have come up with many ideas to raise money, from cake stalls at work, to sponsored walks and runs, an auction night, annual daffodil collection and a dress in yellow for work day.

Mrs Wright said she was with Peter for 26 years and their world fell apart when he was diagnosed with lung cancer, but when they came into contact with the Marie Curie Hospice they “felt safe”.

She said: “Peter and I often talked about how when he got better we would both volunteer. I would help with teas or the shop and Peter would help with the gardening and drive patients to and from the day unit. Sadly, that wasn’t to be.

“I spoke to Helen Rowlands, community fundraiser at the hospice and I, with my sister and close friends, decided to raise funds in the Wibsey and district area for the Hospice.

“I am so passionate about the Hospice that I and the family will raise as much as we can so that others who sadly have a terminal illness can receive the excellent care that all the staff give at the hospice.

“I can never repay everyone at the hospice for what they have done for my Pete, but I can assure you that I will, in Pete’s memory, help the hospice from the both of us.”

Community fundraiser Helen Rowlands would like to hear from anyone who would like to join the group by becoming a member, or from others who could donate a tombola or raffle prize, bake a cake or make a donation.

For further details of the Wibsey & District fundraising group, contact the local Marie Curie Fundraising Office on (01274) 337034.