A NURSE from Helmshore is part of a creative duo aiming to raise £20,000 in 12 months for cancer hospital The Christie.

Kerry Lyons, a 38-year-old nurse at Tameside Hospital, and Kelly Dooley, a 35-year-old wedding organiser from Farnworth, have been selling quirky hand-painted bags for the cause since September.

Now they have launched a full-scale fundraising mission and are organising several charity events in Bury next month.

Kelly and Kerry are hosting a family fun day in the Mill Gate Centre in Bury between 9am and 5pm on Saturday, March 15, before 28 people take part in an abseil down Peel Tower the following day.

Kerry said: “We want to donate £10,000 to pancreatic cancer treatments and research at The Christie and a further £10,000 to patients of all cancers.

“We have common ground because we have both lost family members to cancer so we decided we would come together and have a go.”

The friends sell their hand-decorated bags for £13 from Kelly’s shop Kellibrations in Market Street, Farnworth.

Every penny goes straight to The Christie and the women say their bags have been bought as gifts for people across the globe, and they can also be made to order.

Kerry draws the designs on the bags then Kelly paints them before handing them back to her friend for finishing touches.

Kerry said: “We did set ourselves a big challenge — but if we can gather a couple of pounds from everyone they will quickly add up into thousands.”

Based in south Manchester, The Christie is the largest cancer centre in Europe and treats more than 40,000 patients each year.

A glittering ball on September 26 at the Albert Hall in Victoria Square, Bolton, will be the culmination of the women’s efforts.