When Olive Southcombe was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1996 doctors warned her family she had just six months to live.

After an operation she underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and the 62-year-old grandmother-of-four confounded medics by pulling through.

One thing that helped Mrs Southcombe, of Brompton Road, East Bowling, was the birth of her grandaughter Holly on October 21, 1996.

She said: "I had just had my chemo treatment at BRI's ward 15 and from the ward I went straight to the maternity block where I saw Holly being born. I think that made me stronger and determined to get better."

In the subsequent years Mrs Southcombe has concentrated on enjoying life and has devoted much of it to helping other cancer patients by becoming a volunteer art tutor with Bradford Cancer Support (BCS) and raising money for cancer charities.

Now she and her family are backing BCS's Daisy Appeal which aims to raise £1.1million to build a new centre at Smith Lane, close to Bradford Royal Infirmary, to replace their cramped accommodation in Daisy Hill.

Holly, who is now nine, has just raised £176 for the appeal by completing a sponsored swim at Queensbury Baths.

The youngster, of Bradford Road, Clayton, took on the challenge even though she has not been swimming for long.

"I am extremely proud of her," said Mrs Southcombe. "That she thought about ways to raise money on her own is good for a nine-year-old. She is very loving and caring and really wanted to do something to help."

No one understands more than Mrs Southcombe the value of the work carried out by BCS and the need for a new building.

She was invited to join the BCS team as a volunteer art tutor after displaying an artistic flair when she took part in art therapy classes during her treatment.

"I needed to do something to keep my mind off the cancer," she said. "And to be with others in the same boat really helps as well. You make friends that become like family."

With the Daisy Appeal now topping £500,000 Mrs Southcombe is looking forward to taking her art classes in the new building.

She said: "The place we have now is quite small and we have so many patients we need a lot more space. I am really looking forward to the new building and having my own space."

Mrs Southcombe also added her thanks to the Independent Labour Club in Leicester Street, East Bowling, which has supported all the fundraising she has done over the years for ward 15 at BRI, Cookridge Hospital, Marie Curie and Bradford Cancer Support.

For ways to help the Daisy appeal contact Linda Enderby or Maureen Burns, appeal co-ordinator, at Bradford Cancer Support, Daisy Bank, 109 Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RN or telephone (01274) 776688.

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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