A COUPLE from Penarth are entering their 14th year of collecting money for a charity appeal.

Alan and Hazel Bransfield have been married for 53 years and have boosted Marie Curie's coffers by taking part in the charity's Great Daffodil Appeal for well over a decade.

They now want to encourage people to volunteer and support the charity as they go out and about across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan in February and March.

Ahead of the launch of this year’s appeal in Wales on February 9, Alan and Hazel have shared what they enjoy about collecting for the appeal.

Mr Bransfield said: “Collecting for the Great Daffodil Appeal is great.

"You meet an awful lot of nice people, and you hear lots of stories from people whose relatives have received care or have been supported by the charity.

Mrs Bransfield added: “People are very generous. I think Marie Curie has a particularly special place in people’s hearts, because lots of people have witnessed the care and support that the charity offers.”

“You’ve got to be open, friendly and approachable – don’t be pushy.

"If you can say hello to someone you know, that attracts other people.

"We’ve both lived in Penarth for most of our lives, and we’ve been collecting for so long that we know lots of people, and they will stop and talk to us and donate.”

Even the couple's wedding anniversary has not stood in the way of their great daffodil appeal collections.

Mrs Bransfield said: “We always do the collections around our wedding anniversary on February 23.

"We collected on the day of our 50th wedding anniversary, which was brilliant.

"We went over to the hospice to pick up the stuff for our collection and the fundraising team had ordered us a bouquet of flowers, which was lovely.”

Mr Bransfield added: “I think we just would like to carry on as long as we can and as long as our health permits and just try and encourage other people to take part.”