A former teacher has designed a range of cards to help raise vital funds for a charity which ‘gave her back her life.’

Marilyn Taylor, 69, from Epping, was admitted to St Clare’s Hospice in Hastingwood in July after being told that her endometrial cancer of the womb was sadly terminal.

The hospice, which has eight charity stores in and around Epping Forest, cared for Mrs Taylor, who was very weak and unable to walk, until she was well enough to return home after two weeks.

Staff arranged to install equipment in Mrs Taylor’s home, allowing her to move back in with her family with the support of St Clare Hospice carers.

Mrs Taylor said: “When I was first transferred to St Clare’s Inpatient Unit, I didn’t think I’d ever go home again.

“I thought I was going to St Clare’s to die; I was so weak.

“But, the way St Clare cares for people is an eye-opener, they literally gave me back my life, my sense of self and my independence.

“Right from the start, the staff and volunteers gave me so much encouragement in so many ways.

“It was challenging, but they were so supportive.

“They make you feel like a real person, and not just a patient.”

Following her diagnosis in May 2014, Mrs Taylor pursued her love of painting and in September she began taking art classes and started work on a series of botanical paintings.

Wanting to give something back to the hospice, the mother-of-two decided to use the paintings to make cards and notelets and donated them to the hospice to be sold to raise much-needed funds.

She added: “To be able to return home, sit watching the birds in the garden, it’s been magical.

“I was even able to do some more painting, which I love.

“After the care I received, I want to give something back to St Clare.

“So I have donated the cards featuring some of my paintings to St Clare to raise money so that other people can receive the phenomenal support that St Clare Hospice provides absolutely free of charge to those that need it.

“If I need to go back to St Clare, I won’t be at all afraid.”

Mrs Taylor’s cards come in four designs in packs of eight.

They are available for a suggested minimum donation of £3 per pack, or £5 for two packs, from all of the St Clare Hospice shops as well as from the Hospice reception.