Bury Hospice is fortunate to have such amazing support from the people of Bury – it is overwhelming to see how much effort people are prepared to put in to raise money or how much time they give up to make a difference.

Next week our team will be once again be running its Christmas tree collection service from Friday through to Sunday.

A team of dedicated volunteers, which include a group of ex-firefighters, will spend three days collecting Christmas trees from doorsteps.

Collections will take place between Friday, January 13 and Sunday, January 15 across the BL0, BL8, BL9, M25, M26, M45 postcode areas and Ainsworth, Bradley Fold, Harwood and Bradshaw.

We don’t charge to collect your tree, we simply ask for a donation.

Our tree-cycling is a business-supported initiative, with local firms getting behind the campaign by donating vans, people and resources.

The initiative is supported by Bespoke Landscapes, Ashley Edge Gardening Services, ParcelFast, Lostock Installations, Senior Waste Removals, Ferriday Motor Bodies, A&A Couriers, Timothy’s NW, Manchester Safety Services, Newtons of Bury, DD Exhibitions, Cosalea Café and Bar and our great team of volunteers.

The old spruces and fir trees will be taken to Ashley Edge Tree and Garden Services Ltd, where they will be chipped during the collection and recycled - a much more eco-friendly solution than sending trees to landfill.

To arrange for your Christmas tree to be collected, visit www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree.

Since becoming chief executive, I have learned first-hand about the fantastic efforts put in by people of all ages to raise money for the hospice and every year our community generously chooses to support the hospice in a variety of ways.

These include donating to and buying from one of our hospice charity shops, supporting or organising an event, fundraising themselves through challenges and others volunteer their time.

If these people weren’t donating their time, support or money, the hospice would not exist.

In February we will be having our first ever firewalk.

If you are looking to conquer your fears, increase your confidence and boost your self-esteem, join us for our shortest, hottest, sponsored walk.

The firewalk, delivered by UK Firewalk, will take place on Thursday, February 23 at Woodbank Cricket Club on Stafford Street, Bury.

If you would like to hot foot it across the coals and raise money for the hospice, contact Rachel Krafft, our community fundraiser on 0161 797 1748 or email rachelkrafft@buryhospice.org.uk or visit https://www.buryhospice.org.uk/events/firewalk.

This year it will cost over £3.5m to run the hospice and all of our services are free of charge.

As a charity, we have to raise £3m of this ourselves and it is the generosity of our community that helps us to continue providing care and support for people with life-limiting conditions and their families.