A WOMAN whose husband died of cancer at St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall, has been able to raise more than £25,000 after organising coffee mornings and other activities.

Sheila Greenway, of Beacon Grove, Fulwood, has been organising coffee mornings in aid of St Cath's for the past 14 years.

Originally she held them at her house but they got so popular she had to hire out St Martin's Hall, in Fulwood.

Sheila said: "The coffee mornings were becoming ever so popular that it was becoming unsafe to have strangers in the house."

The event has become so popular that Sheila has had to get help off her niece along with 28 friends, who help organise the beverage sessions as well as donate prizes and run stalls on local fetes.

And the fetes have also attracted Royal attention with visits from the Queen Mother and Sarah Duchess of York who have both donated prizes to the fetes along with local business leaders.

Sheila also organises bingo evenings and antique evenings and plans to start a cabaret night to raise even more money.

Appeals manager at St Caths, John Nickson, said: "We are very grateful to Sheila for the money she has raised for the hospice. She's a champion."

Tickets for the coffee mornings are sold at local supermarkets including Asda and Booths. The next event is at St Martin's Hall, Broadway, Fulwood, on June 27, at 10am to noon.