LADIES who lunch have raised a record-breaking £27,000 at one sitting for Bradford’s Marie Curie hospice.

The event at the city’s Midland Hotel served up a whopping helping of funds enough to pay for 1,350 hours of nursing care at the hospice in Maudsley Street which costs £10,000 a day to run.

Hospice fundraiser Sharon Link said it was a phenomenal amount of money and the most that has ever been raised at the event now in its fourth year.

“It’s phenomenal and a record amount made from that event. The money will go direct into the nursing care pot for the hospice. We say that it costs £20 for just one hour so the proceeds from the luncheon will fund 1,350 of those precious hours.”

The Ladies Luncheon was organised by the Marie Curie Bradford Hospice Development Board, made up of corporate people who get involved as volunteers and ambassadors to help raise funds and awareness. The speaker at the event was Lisa Holdsworth from Leeds, a Best New Writer BAFTA nominated screen writer whose written episodes of Emmerdale, New tricks, Fat friends to name but a few.

Mrs Link added: “The charity received some very generous donations both from guests on the day and from local businesses before and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the many individuals and organisations that have supported the lunch.

“Marie Curie is here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support to help them get the most from the time they have left and we can’t do this without the support of our local community to whom we are extremely grateful.”

The hospice also relies heavily on the funds brought in by its Marie Curie Bradford Hospice Development Board who also organise a longer-established sports luncheon ever year, the 2016 event will be on Friday, September 16 and annually bring in between £33,000 to £35,000 each time. It is so popular it has a waiting list of guests.

The hospice is also recruiting fundraisers to join its 2017 trek to Costa Rica discovering its rainforest and volcanos. So far 12 people have signed up and there is still space for 13 more who need to each raise £3,650 sponsorship. To find out more contact Sharon.link@mariecurie.org.uk or call 01274 386197.