Couple volunteer 3,000 hours for local hospice

Pete and Sue Woolfitt, who have been married for 55 years, have been volunteering with Sue Ryder since 2004

A married couple who spent 3,000 hours volunteering for a local hospice have raised nearly £145,000.

Since 2010, Sue and Pete Woolfitt from Peterborough have done more than 300 bucket collections across the city for Sue Ryder.

The pair, who first started volunteering for the palliative care charity's Thorpe Hall hospice in 2004, wanted to give something back in life.

The duo have been nominated for the fundraiser prize at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Make a Difference Awards, which will be announced at a ceremony later.

'Humbling'

Mrs Woolfitt, 74, and Mr Woolfitt, 76, said they spend 10 hours a day during six months of the year in different locations in Peterborough and the surrounding region "irrespective of the weather and conditions".

"When I retired I wanted to give one day a week to charity and my friend recommended it," Mrs Woolfitt said.

"One day turns into two and then three, so we do weekends for half the year.

"Our friends think we are mad.

"We get satisfaction out of it. Whether you give a penny or a pound, you get the same thanks. It is humbling."

She said over the years it had gotten harder to fundraise, partly because of the rising cost of living.

"We have noticed people still give, but less money. We come up with ideas of how we can encourage giving," she explained.

"People have less cash. QR codes were too hard for some people so now we have a contactless machine and a giving page online."

The Sue Ryder charity nominated the pair for the award.

"Without volunteers like Sue and Pete we would not be able to carry on providing our expert and compassionate palliative care and support free of charge to everyone who needs it," a spokesperson said.