A DEDICATED fundraiser who has worked tirelessly to help raise £20,000 for charity has been crowned Bury Woman of the Year.

Following the death of her daughter Sarah Taylor, who died aged 28 after losing her battle with cancer, Lorraine Taylor has helped raise thousands for Bury Hospice, where Sarah died in February.

Mrs Taylor, of Whitefield, earned the coveted title, which is in its 19th year, after receiving four nominations for her turning her heartache into an act of kindness.

Since her daughter’s death, Mrs Taylor has raised more than £20,000 for Bury Hospice, whose motto is Touching Local Lives.

She also took home Carer of the Year, after giving up her job working in a nursery to care for Sarah for a year.

She said: “Everyone at Bury Hospice was absolutely wonderful with Sarah and she was able to die with dignity. I used to think that hospices just cared for older people but I now know that they can help anyone.

“We raise money to support the hospice and thank them for everything. Sarah was always the type of person to help her friends out when she could, so I believe this is something she would be doing if she was still here.

“Her close friends, who call themselves the Tay Team, have also helped with raising money for the hospice, I could not do it all on my own. They’re amazing.

“It’s amazing to be recognised and I’m completely shocked to have won but we’ve only been able to do this because of Sarah. It’s as though it’s not me who has won, it’s Sarah. My son said he’s really proud and believes she would be too.”

Fundraiser Pam Byrom, who organised the event said: “It was a very successful event and there was a high calibre of nominations. The judges had a really tough decision in every category.

“There were more than 200 people there and we had some superb prizes donated including a weekend away and an iPad which we are grateful for. They were all worthy winners and our overall winner Lorraine Taylor is an amazing woman. She has turned her grief following the passing of her daughter into fundraising and she has raised over £20,000 for the hospice which is incredible.”

Debra Guider was named Business Woman of the Year and Val Turner took home the title of Volunteer of the Year.