A WIDOW credits a charity for saving her life following the death of her husband.

Pam Hunt, 73, who volunteers for Marie Curie in their Rhyl office five mornings a week, is marking six years of providing support for the terminal illness charity.

The volunteer, of Rhyl, joined the support base in December 2011 after her husband Brian died.

Brian had been ill will prostate cancer for six years. In 2009, he was diagnosed - after showing no symptoms - with bowel cancer. Sadly, the cancer had already spread to his liver so it couldn't be operated on. Brian received palliative care and underwent chemotherapy but in March 2011, it became evident he was weakening.

Pam was told that her husband would stop having chemotherapy and only receive palliative care.

After one particular "rough night" Marie Curie nursing service became involved. Pam said their help gave her the strength to cope.

"I can’t emphasise how much I idolised Brian," Pam said.

"Brian was a very big, strong man, so it was a big shock to us, but for that first year it was manageable because he could still walk about and take himself out and things like that.

"In March 2011 it became clear that he was weakening - he couldn’t go out.

"One day in September or October, the nurse came in the morning. The night before, he had tried to get out of bed. The healthcare assistant said to me 'you've had a really rough night'. I replied that it had been horrible.

"She got me Marie Curie and the nurses came about two or three time each week for the next three of four weeks," Pam added. "I thought they were just wonderful.

"The first night I asked if I should just sit in the other room incase she needed me, and she said no. She said the whole point is for me to sleep, go and have a bath and to visit my daughter. She just asked me to get back for 7am the next morning.

"They were just so helpful and lovely, it’s the relief of the support that made the difference to me."

Following Brian's death, Pam sent donations to the Marie Curie office in Rhyl and on receiving a letter of thanks, she contacted the office offering her help.

Pam now volunteers in the office - her work involves accounting and phoning people to sign them up for collections. She also takes part in fundraising activities, including collections during campaigns.

"I was distraught and I had to have a reason to get up in the morning," Pam said.

"It saved my life. I still get very tearful when I think of him [Brian], so I don’t think I would have coped.

"Brian would be so thrilled that I am doing this. I absolutely love it."