THE owner of a Kingswinford garden centre hopes to raise £15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support throughout the next year.

John Massey, of Ashwood Nurseries, has named the organisation as his centre’s charity of the year and will also open his three acre private garden to the public on six days in 2015.

All the proceeds from the open garden and the store’s fundraising will be donated to Macmillan Specialist Care at Home, a two-year pilot project in Dudley borough.

The project, funded by Macmillan and Dudley CCG, and delivered in partnership with The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Mary Stevens Hospice, aims to enhance care and treatment for people in Dudley borough with specialist palliative care needs or who are at the end of their lives.

Emily Morgan, Macmillan fundraising regional manager for the Black Country, said: “We are delighted Ashwood Nurseries has chosen Macmillan as their charity of the year.

“All the money raised will go directly to our project in Dudley, which is changing the way end of life care is delivered in the area.

“Getting the best possible quality care and support at the end of your life is absolutely vital.

“There are no dress rehearsals, we have to get it right for people with cancer and other life limiting conditions first time and every time.”

John said opening his garden, which is set against the backdrop of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, is a wonderful way to raise money for Macmillan.

He said: “I really value the important role Macmillan play in the care of cancer patients and their families.

“I believe Ashwood’s fundraising should be used locally and I’m delighted that the money we raise is to be targeted entirely to help one of Macmillan’s most exciting new projects in Dudley.

“I’m sure that Ashwood’s many customers will be generous in their support of this very worthy cause.”