Kind-hearted staff at a day care centre for older people and carers launched a campaign to collect 100 birthday cards as a surprise for a resident who will celebrate the milestone birthday this month.

Dorreen Brown will turn 100 on July 22 and staff at The Princes Centre, in Clifford Road, Princes Risborough, are planning to present her with 100 birthday cards, which have poured in from all over the world, including Australia and New Zealand, following a social media campaign.

Manager Kim Challinor said the idea of the cards “just came” to her one day and she, and another member of staff, shared it on social media with the hashtag 100cardsforDorreen, where it went viral.

She said: “I was amazed at how quickly it went viral. It just took off.

“It’s lovely that people think to just go out and buy a card for her. We are really pleased.”

The Princes Centre has already collected 100 cards for Mrs Brown, who lives in Princes Risborough and visits the centre once a week, and are collecting more.

She said: “We want to see how many we can get.

“She doesn’t like a lot of fuss so she will be totally blown away by this.

“She is a remarkable lady. She still lives at home and looks after herself.

“She is incredible. We are so pleased to have her as a client.”

Mrs Brown’s daughter Maureen Henderson, 71, said the whole family will gather at the surprise party for her mum at The Princes Centre on July 26.

She said: “It is just incredible. We thought it was an amazing idea.

“It is amazing how it has all snowballed. I think it is great.”

Speaking about her mum, who is a keen snooker fan, Mrs Henderson said: “She is a brilliant mum. My eldest brother died when he was 17 and she dealt with it so well. They made them much more resilient in those days.”

Mrs Henderson also praised staff at The Princes Centre, saying the facility filled a void in the town for older people.

She said: “The staff there are absolutely brilliant. They do a brilliant job. It is such a great facility and necessary in this area.”

You can send Dorreen a card at The Princes Centre, Clifford Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 0DP.