A TEXT campaign has been launched to fund orecious treats for cancer sufferers.

Halton Haven hopes to organise more outings for their day hospice patients.

The idea follows the success of a recent canal boat trip.

Angela Goulding, senior staff nurse at the hospice, said: “The day was absolutely superb. We started a nine in the morning, had lunch and arrived back at the hospice at around five.

“Everybody absolutely loved it. The smiles on the patients’ faces said it all.

“A lot of our patients don’t go out that often, it means so much to these people, it allowed them to feel alive again.”

Almost 50 patients a week attend the day hospice in Barnfield Avenue, Murdishaw, Runcorn.

Angela said: “A patient said to me the other day: ‘I used to be a somebody, and now I’m just a nobody’.

“Our job at the hospice is to make patients continue to feel like they are a somebody.

“Day trips like this make them feel normal, makes people whole.

“It’s about allowing people to continue to live.

“Some of the patients have got limited prognosis, so days out like this are really precious.”

Eight patients and four members of staff can experience a day trip on a barge for around £400.

Angela added: “It would be absolutely brilliant if we could reaise enough money so that every single one of our patients could experience a day out.”

To make a donation, please text DAYC44£ (however much you wish) to 70070.

From left, Sue Roberts, senior care assistant, Jenny Hewitt, patient, and Chris Bullock, a senior day hospice nurse on a boat trip