Grant champions cancer charity

Hugh Grant has welcomed an increase in funding for a nursing charity which looked after his mother prior to her death.

The actor spoke poignantly about the work of Marie Curie nurses who provide care to terminally ill cancer patients.

His comments came as the Government announced plans to invest a further £4.5 million in the charity that helps patients to die in the comfort of their own homes.

The actor's mother - Finvola Grant - died in 2001 after battling with cancer.

The charity - which will celebrate its 60th anniversary this week - provides free, end of life care for around 27,000 patients per year.

Grant, who is an ambassador for the charity, said: "I am one of those people who came into contact with Marie Curie just because someone in my family died."

He added: "In my case it was my mother, she died of cancer in 2001.

"She wanted to die at home as most people do and not many people can for various reasons.

"They came out to my brother's house and enabled my mother to have a very dignified and quite cosy and loving last three weeks and not just because they are brilliant nurses but they are just really great people to have around.

"They are a laugh and are open to whatever it is that the patient might like - in my mother's case it was gossip and they gave her tons and tons of gossip."

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