THE East Lancashire Hospice has come up with a bright idea for fundraising this summer.

Hospice supporters are being encouraged to hold yellow-themed events throughout June as part of a national Hospice Care Campaign.

The campaign has been set up to raise awareness of hospice services and the care available for the terminally ill, their relatives and carers.

And yellow has been chosen as the theme because it is the colour that has been adopted by hospices to use on their logos.

Harry Grayson, head of fundraising at the East Lancashire Hospice, is taking the yellow theme to extremes this year by donning the colour from head to toe. He has even coloured his normally white hair and moustache.

He said: "I've certainly had some funny looks and have taken a bit of stick from members of staff but they appreciate why I'm doing it.

"Yellow is a very happy colour and if it makes somebody smile it will have achieved its objective and made up for any embarrassment.

"We are hoping people will really get behind this and help us to raise as much as we possibly can."

The East Lancashire Hospice, in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, is the main specialist palliative care unit in Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

The hospice first opened in 1984 and underwent a £2.2million revamp in January 2002 which included the addition of a new day therapy centre.

It now has 10 individual in-patient rooms, complimentary therapies, physiotherapy, out-patient clinics and has increased day therapy places from 25 a week to 100.

Anastasia Beardwood, 83, of the Blackamoor area of Blackburn, is one of those who uses the facilities after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She said: "I think this campaign is a lovely idea.

"People have the wrong conception of the hospice and think it is a place where people come to die -- but they don't, they come here to live."

For more information contact the hospice on 01254 342810.