A MAN has raised more than £21,000 in the past six years to help a hospice who cared for his sister.

Siraj Patel, and his family had never heard of Bolton Hospice care and wanted to let other families know about the vital services they can offer in Bolton both in the hospice, at the wellbeing hub and at home.

To thank the hospice for the care they provided his sister, Siraj has been fundraising for the hospice.

He said: “Just over years ten ago my sister Zaheeda was diagnosed with breast cancer and after receiving chemotherapy treatment she was given the all clear, which was a relief for my family and in particular her husband and three young sons whom were all under 12 years old. During the month of December after three years being cancer free – she experienced severe back pain after attending an appointment at Bolton Hospital she was told that the cancer had come back very severely but in her spine and that it was terminal. This was very upsetting for my family, quickly she was admitted to Bolton Hospice.

“I cannot express my gratitude to all the staff and the nurses for enabling my sister’s dying wish.

"Although my sister had the right to live in the UK she was waiting to receive residency status.

"The hospice enabled and helped my sister attend her appointments in a different way - instead of moving her out of the comfort of her room they helped her to received residency status from her bed, the Mayor and all the other official officers were able to attend to her by her beside and the evening before she passed she was granted her wish.

"They told her that her children were now a part of the British family and she moved into the next life knowing that.

"I will never forget the kindness and accommodating nature of the Bolton Hospice nurses – which is why I have been fundraising for the hospice for the past 6 years to show my gratitude and appreciation for the care my sister received.”

Bolton Hospice also has 16 private en-suite rooms for those who may need care within the hospice.

To find out more about the hospice’s services please visit www.boltonhospice.org.uk