Natalie Rice and her family - pictured -  is inviting CHFT colleagues to dig out their spades and come along and join in her efforts to transform a churchyard following the devastating loss of her mother-in-law.

Natalie - from the Eye Clinic -  has set up Our Community Spirits to restore the graveyard at St Peter's Church, Sowerby. A Big Clean-up is planned for this Saturday. (June 1) from 10 am onwards.

She says: "  I understand that, with life in the hospital, my story may seem not all that important to others. But as I work in care sector maybe I thought I would find some colleagues here who  can see what I see.

"Our family's spare time is spent raising money for the grave yard. We started this up after a very sudden lose of my mother-in-law who I was very close to. I lost my own mum a number of years ago ,so this loss  felt was much the same as losing my own Mum.

"It was truly stocking experience where we tried CPR until paramedics arrived and worked ever so hard to bring her back but later our hope was ripped away once after doctors had said there no more we can do but to let her slip away. This was a devastating hit to our Family."

She added: " As a family we were quick to make a promise to Mum /nana/(Gill) that where she lay to rest would be  kept  tidy and a place of remembrance. "

So far, they have done Christmas raffle/pop stalls and  have their very own Facebook page and just giving page set up. 

She added: "There are so many lives we could help to be remembered. Saint Peter's Church is one of the oldest churches the UK and is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The churchyard is full of young souls taken away too early and those who died working in the mills too."

The next BIG CLEAN UP is this Saturday on June 1 from 10 am onwards.  Anyone wishing to help is invited to turn up with their gardening tools.

The family's  just giving link is www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ourcommunityspiritsfund?utm>