WHEN care home matron Cathy Dunn decides to take a holiday from work she doesn't sit back and relax.

The 39-year-old from Great Harwood takes her work with her, continuing to care for disabled and elderly people.

During a recent trip to Lourdes, Cathy cared round the clock for 45 people as a volunteer nurse with the Raphael Pilgrimage, which was set up by the Leonard Cheshire charity.

Cathy has been making her trip every year for 10 years, around the time she started work at Springhill Care Home, Accrington.

This month she was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a gold cross and chain to mark 10 years of service with the home.

She first sampled life in Lourdes with the Northern Overlanders, a group of pilgrims from St Wulstan's RC Church, Rushton Street, Great Harwood.

Every year the group holds a sponsored walk to raise funds for the journey, with members paying the rest of the money out of their own pockets.

Cathy said: "You could say it was a busman's holiday and some of my colleagues think I'm crazy but I loved every minute.

"It's completely different, although I go as a nurse.

"It's not like we are in the hospital all the time. We take them out to different ceremonies within Lourdes, and different grottos.

"The whole pilgrimage goes up into the Pyrenees once a week for Mass and a picnic.

"It's my 11th year. The first year I went was in 1980 before I even became a nurse. We went as helpers."

About 10 years ago, when Cathy moved back into the area from Leeds, she got involved with the group again and this time offered her services as a nurse.

"I enjoy it. There is always something that happens that makes you think: 'This is why I have been here this year,'" she said.

Before she started at Springhill. Cathy spent 10 years working in the NHS as a staff nurse and ward sister in hospitals in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

By 1992 she decided she needed a new challenge and was all set to swap her nurse's uniform for fatigues and join the army.

"Working for the private sector wasn't anything I'd considered. I have to admit I hadn't a clue what went on in nursing homes and thought anyone could do it.

"Seeing the way the residents were treated in pleasant comfortable surroundings was enough to convince me I'd be happy working there."

Ken Nolan, proprietor of the home, said: "We considered ourselves very fortunate to have lured Cathy here 10 years ago. We are delighted she is still here."