“Seeing the support my family and friends have had drives me to raise more money”

The first person in my family who was supported by Marie Curie was my grandma. She was in the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford in the 1970s when it was in Ilkley.

My next-door neighbour also had nurses coming into her home to look after her in 2007. I saw what a good job they did in looking after her and I wanted to do something to give back.

I’ve been to the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford quite a few times, five years ago my sister was cared for at the hospice before she died. I used to go to the hospice in the evenings to take daffodils in, and I remember hearing the laughter and happiness on the ward. The nurses helping her were so good with her.

In 2022 my wife’s sister and brother both died within three months of each other, and they were both cared for at the hospice too. The staff are so kind.

It’s such an important cause to raise money for. Collecting makes me feel like I’m giving back to the world, because I’ve always had good health.

After collecting for over 17 years, it's exciting to watch new people start collecting. I recently had a couple do their first collection in Skipton and they loved it so much they did it all day. And once when I was out collecting I met Peter Armitage who played Bill Webster in Coronation Street.

It’s a bit like being at the coal face when we’re out collecting on the streets in our big yellow hats. People tell me their stories about what they’ve been through, and they often don’t know where to turn.

I remember a couple, who were struggling with cancer, came and spoke to me once while I was collecting. I gave them the Support Line number and when I went back the next week the husband came to thank me for helping him.