A WOMAN who has helped raise thousands of pounds for nurses at St Michael's Hospice has recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

May Daniels turned 100 on July 19 and celebrated with her friends and family at Donnington Court.

Mrs Daniels has been a key supporter of the Eric Bayliss Nursing Fund since it was created by its namesake in 1986 to help fund nurses at the hospice.

The fund currently provides £1,250 every month to pay for a nurse's salary and it goes straight to the nurse in question.

Kerry Fone, friend of Mrs Daniels and fellow fundraiser, has been involved with the hospice for over 30 years.

He explained that it is crucial that nurses are supported as they are at 'the sharp end of the hospice'.

Mr Fone understands the importance of funding as he previously ran the financial side of the hospice in the late 1980's during its early days.

When he took on the role, the nurses had not been paid for two months, they were on the brink of redundancy, the building was in debt and the hospice faced the prospect of closure.

Thanks to the creation of the Eric Bayliss Nursing Fund and Mr Fone's efforts, the hospices' finances were turned around in a short time.

Mrs Daniels, who was born in July 1918 when the First World War was still raging, has been a committed supporter of the Fund and her whist drives proved a fundraising hit.

Mrs Daniels insisted on no birthday presents and instead asked well-wishers to make a donation to the Eric Bayliss Foundation.

She did however receive a birthday card from Her Majesty the Queen.

Mrs Daniels has three sons, eight grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.