A LITTLE-known charity which provides overnight care for terminally-ill people is appealing for support.

Tender Nursing Care was founded in 1979 by Dr Maire Bellew, then a Bamber Bridge GP, when she arranged a rota system for local retired nurses to look after a terminally ill woman.

The service provided much-needed rest for the patient's husband, who had made himself seriously ill looking after her.

Two decades on and the charity helps more than 3,000 people a year and as many as 20 nurses work each night.

But in order to continue, the charity, which is run by 12 hard-working volunteers, needs more nurse and more fund-raisers.

The charity, which helps people in Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and Longridge, needs to raise £1,500 a week.

Fund-raiser Joan Gemson said: "GPs refer people to us and we send out registered nurses or carers to look after the patient, who is normally terminally ill, between 10pm and 7am giving the relation who is normally looking after them much needed time off.

"We pay the going rates for the nurses to work overnight and that is why we need to raise so much money each week.

"We only receive small amounts of support from social services so we are totally reliant on donations and legacies."

The charity is supported by South Ribble mayor Councillor Jim Owen who is donating some funds from the mayor's charity to the organisation.

Joan is also using her position as women's captain at Shaw Hill Golf Club to raise extra money for the charity. Joan added: "The more awareness of our charity, the money we hope to receive so we can help more people, which can only be a good thing."

If you are a nurse or registered carer who would like more information about working for the charity, call the Ryan Medical Centre on (01772) 335136. If you want to get involved with the fund-raising, call the charity's chairman, Rod Warton, on (01772) 423851.

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