A BEWDLEY woman raised £100 at her 21st birthday party for the hospice which cared for her Mum in her final days.

Care assistant Danni Perrins asked guests at her party last month to donate to St Richard’s Hospice in memory of her Mum Nikki Usowicz, who died in 2012 aged 40 after a three year battle with cancer.

Miss Perrins said she was just 18 when her Mum died but her death had been made much easier thanks to staff at the hospice, where she spent her last days.

“My mom was the strongest person I know,” she said. “When she was at her worst she still had her beautiful smile on her face and was always there for everyone else let alone how she must have been feeling herself.

“She did a lot of fundraising, from head shaving events to running even when she was feeling so poorly.

“She was amazing.”

Miss Perrins said she and her family were “terrified” when her Mum was admitted to the hospice in Wildwood Drive.

“We knew that mom wasn't coming home and that was the worst feeling ever,” she said.

“The journey to the hospice was just me and mom by ambulance.

“It felt like a lifetime, but straight away the staff put us all at ease and what a lovely, calm environment it was there.

“It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but St Richard’s were amazing at this time.”

She described the care given to her Mum and the support her and her family received as “incredible”.

“I don't know what we would have done without the care we all received from the friendly staff at St Richard’s Hospice,” she said.

“We were there just two days before mom passed away, with us holding her hand as she took her last breath.

“The staff were incredible.

“I didn't think I could be so brave to be with my mom as she passed away peacefully, but the staff and my family made this possible.

“I will forever be grateful to St Richard’s Hospice for this and I want to thank them.”

She thanked everyone at her party on Tuesday, December 23 for raising the cash for the charity and said she was planning on a number of other fundraising events.

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for more than 2,500 patients living with life-threatening illnesses in Worcestershire and their families every year.

For more information visit www.strichards.org.uk.