A former cancer sufferer has launched a bid to help get a new hospice in Bradford by staging the city's biggest ever line dance.

Jean Peart, 58, of Baildon, vowed to help charities after undergoing surgery to remove a small lump discovered during screening five years ago. Since then she has helped organise a couple of smaller line dances for Bosom Friends, the city's breast cancer support group which helped her through her ordeal, and the annual Crocus Walk Days, which have raised thousands of pounds for the Breakthrough charity.

Now Jean, pictured with fellow dancers Raymond Colley (top) and Ian Shipley, wants at least 500 people to dig out their cowboy hats for the Marie Curie Line Dance of Hope in Centenary Square to raise at least £5,000.

Dancers will be sponsored to take part in event on Saturday, July 17, as part of Bradford Festival, with more than 40 groups across the district already invited to take part.

Sponsorship money will boost the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity's appeal, which has now topped the £1 million mark, for a new £5.2 million hospice in the city.

Mrs Peart, a health visitor at Windhill Green Medical Centre, said: "I wanted to put something back and have got more active in raising money for charities associated either with improving services locally or finding a cure."

l Anyone wishing to take part should call the appeals office on 01274 780606 or Mrs Peart on 599950.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.