A WOMAN from Oldfield is asking people to join her in helping to raise vital funds to support Manorlands.

Rachel Sanderson is supporting the launch of the hospice's Mother's Day Appeal, which runs throughout February until Mother's Day on March 6.

Her own seriously ill mother, Ann Holdsworth, was looked after for two weeks in the hospice before she died three years ago.

Miss Sanderson, 46, said: "We were really relieved when mum came to Manorlands.

"My dad and I tried to look after her at home, but it was really hard as she needed us there all the time.

"When we got her to Manorlands it was such a massive weight lifted off our shoulders. Everybody was so lovely, they made you feel welcome as soon as you walked through the door.

"I used to finish working at the local pub at 11 o’clock at night and I’d come straight up and no-one would say anything or look at me strange.

"I’d stay with mum until 1am or 2am until she’d settled.

"They all made you feel welcome and looked after you. They fed and looked after Dad too. If they hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been thinking about feeding himself, he was too busy being there for mum. It’s just an amazing place, the staff, the treatment, everything.

"The staff were very informative when mum was about to pass away. They told us all the signs which I thought was extremely helpful, because it meant that we could stay and make sure we weren’t away when it happened.

"When mum gave her last breath, all the lines and wrinkles in her face just disappeared.

"The staff were angels in disguise, making you feel at ease. They were completely open about the illness and explained what to expect."

Manorlands hopes its Mother's Day Appeal will raise a total of £8,000 – enough to cover the costs of running all of its services for one day.

People can support the appeal by making a donation online at sueryder.org/manorlands/mothers

They can also send a cheque to Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Hebden Road, Oxenhope, BD22 9HJ, or call the fundraising team on 01535 640430.

A hospice spokesman said: "We want to be here for every family who needs us at such difficult times. Right now, with the help of Keighley News readers, we can give families the care as well as the emotional support they need.

"Fourteen pounds could pay for an hour of incredible care on Mother’s Day, £35 can pay for a complementary therapy session and £50 can pay for one session of bereavement counselling for someone struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one."