THE family and friends of 48-year-old woman who died from cancer just weeks after marrying her long-term partner have raised nearly £9,000 for the hospice which cared for her.

Claire Rooke, from Nunnington, died in September 2016, just six months after being diagnosed. Her husband Stephen and her group of friends stripped off to create “Claire’s Calendar” in her memory last year.

The calendar, along with a casino night and a donation from the annual Mini-Fest Beer Festival at the Grapes Inn, Slingsby, has raised £8,688.07 for St Leonard’s Hospice@Home service.

Claire, who has two daughters, 26-year-old Amelia and Lauren Hudson, 24, was cared for at home by the St Leonard’s team.

Stephen said: “In her last few days she was looked after by the Hospice@Home nurses in the comfort of her own home, which is where she wanted to be.

“They were the angels at the door, looking after both us and Claire.

“They couldn’t do enough for us and they gave Claire the dignity she deserved in her last few days. We couldn’t have got through it without them.

“I’m delighted to have raised this money as our way of giving something back. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.”

The calendar sold about 700 copies. All photos were tastefully posed and one member of the group even managed to persuade BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration to strip off in the television studio.

Kathryn Craven, Ryedale community fundraiser for St Leonard’s Hospice, said: “The group has done a fantastic job fundraising and selling the calendars and I was delighted to accept the cheque on behalf of the hospice. Our Hospice@Home team does fantastic work within Ryedale and donations such as this will ensure it can continue providing outstanding care in the comfort of patients’ homes.”