THE fundraising mum of Bradford TV presenter Anita Rani is back from India where she laid the foundation stone of a holistic haemophiliac centre for children.

The centre will be the first of its kind in India and is being built in Pune. Lucky Kaur spent two weeks there and took the latest £1,000 she has raised to fund it.

Mrs Kaur, who works at Bradford Royal Infirmary as a liaison officer, has also raised £1,000 for Bradford Hospitals Charity as part of a 50/50 fundraising project she set up.

The 60-year-old's involvement with the Haematology Society of Maharashtra started when it was twinned with the Bradford Haemophilia Centre at a meeting of the World Federation of Haemophilia in 1996.

BRI consultant haematologist Liakat Parapia used to take medication and spare equipment from Bradford to haemophilia awareness camps and clinics in Pune and when she retired, Mrs Kaur kept up the links.

As well as recruiting support here in Bradford she also set up a network of fundraisers in India to make sure the new holistic centre, specifically for young people, could become a reality.

The centre will eventually treat young people up to the age of 30 and will have accommodation for patients and families.

More than 740 youngsters are registered with the existing diagnostic centre in Pune, but more are getting diagnosed every day, said Mrs Kaur, who has been on a number of trips to raise awareness and give counselling to people affected, making many friends.

Mrs Kaur said she was delighted and honoured to be laying the foundation stone and hopefully it would be the start of a fantastic new hospital which will support the patients and their relatives.

And she said it would not have been possible without the help of people in Bradford who have given so generously.

"Hospitals are for everyone in happy and sad times. We have to give generously for ourselves and our younger generations whether it is to help our own hospital build its new wing here in Bradford or the haemophiliac centre in India. I feel very strongly about that."

Mrs Kaur is planning a return trip to India in October, also took clothing, sweets and toys with her to give to patients and families. A new water pump for patients and families was also be installed at the centre during her trip.

"There was lots of beautiful water that came out when they drilled the hole and water means life. It was a wonderful sight," she added.

Haemophilia is an inherited disorder where blood does not clot. If left untreated, internal bleeding in haemophiliacs can cause swelling in joints, leading to pain, deformity or death. A substitute blood factor can be given to help.

To make a donation towards the haemophiliac centre or Bradford Hospital Charity call 01274 274809.