A woman has pledged to volunteer at a cancer treatment centre in memory of the daughter she lost to the disease.

Marjorie Eardley, 77, began spending her free time at the Macmillan Cancer Resource Centre at Macclesfield Hospital while her daughter Julie Wright was being treated there.

Sadly Julie, from Tytherington, lost her fight with breast cancer in February last year. She was 51 years old.

After a short time away from the centre Marjorie, from Adlington, overcame her grief to return and has pledged to keep helping.

The grandmother of 12 said: “I had a fantastic daughter. She never complained and just got on with her treatment. Julie encouraged me to go and help out at the centre to give me a purpose, something to do. When she passed away I took a break but mithered the centre to be able to return. It really helped me cope to be around people who share the same resilience that Julie had.”

Marjorie Eardley

It has been a tough four years for Marjorie, who lost her beloved husband Barry to a respiratory disease before Julie’s death 18 months ago.

She is kept busy with her other children, sons Allan and Richard Eardley, who run farms in Prestbury and Adlington, and daughter Sallie Lowe, who lives in Poynton, and their families.

But every week Marjorie takes the trip to Macclesfield Hospital where she gets to work making tea for cancer patients as they have their treatment, as well as the staff at the centre. She said: “My role is simple but I like it. It enables staff at the centre to do the important work of counselling and supporting patients through their ordeal.”

Marjorie’s daughter Sallie has also made her own contribution by encouraging her company Autac, based in Macclesfield, to donate some tea, coffee and sugar to the cause.

Marjorie said: “It was a lovely gesture. If other companies in the town want to do the same, then all donations are welcome.”

Marjorie is one of 30 volunteers helping out at the Macmillan centre, covering all sorts of roles such as welcoming and refreshments, counsellors, therapists, gardeners who look after a small sensory garden at the centre, and drivers to help get patients in for their appointments.