Help Marie Curie to continue to provide support and care
MARIE Curie Cancer Care is one of the United Kingdom's largest charities.
It
was established in 1948 - the same year as the NHS - and marks its 60th
anniversary in 2008.
Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, they expect to provide care to around 27,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in our hospices this year, along with support for their families.
They mainly care for people with cancer but we also care for people with other life limiting illnesses.
Their services are always free of charge to patients and their families, which means that in 2007-08, we will need to, raise more than £115 million.
The charity is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end-of-life care for patients in their own homes. They have 10 hospices across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and two centres for palliative care research. They also run the world-renowned Marie Curie Research Institute, which investigates the causes and treatments of cancer. Since 2004, Marie Curie Cancer Care has been campaigning for more patients to be able to make the choice to be cared for and die at home.
Research shows around 70 per cent of people would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, with a sizeable minority opting for hospice care.
However, more than 50 per cent of cancer deaths still occur in hospital, the place people say they would least like to be.
Their campaign - Supporting the Choice to Die at Home - has attracted widespread support from cancer patients and their families, healthcare professionals and politicians from all parties.
In 2004 they launched their first major palliative care service improvement plan, the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme, to provide greater choice for patients in end of life care.
The pilot programme, serving in Boston, Lincolnshire was evaluated by the King's Fund in 2007. The King's Fund report showed that Delivering Choice can double the number of people given the choice to die at home at no extra cost to the tax payer.
The charity's Chief Executive, Thomas Hughes-Hallett sat on the advisory board that fed in to the development of the Government's first ever End of Life Care Strategy, published in July 2008.
The Strategy makes possible a doubling in funding for end of life care by 2011 and draws on lessons leant from the development of The Delivering Choice Programme, including recommending that Every Primary Care Trust has plans in place for improving the quality of end of life care.
Financially, around 70 per cent of the charity's income comes from the generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the balance of our funds coming from the NHS. They also depend on an army of volunteers to support their work in both care and fundraising. The daffodil is the emblem of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Every March we run the Great Daffodil Appeal, with street collections and other fundraising events nationwide.
| For further information about Marie Curie in Northern Ireland, contact Marie Curie Hospice Belfast at la Kensington Road, Belfast, BT5 6NF. Telephone 0289088 2000. Fax 0289088 2022. To contact the Regional Fundraising Office contact Marie Curie Cancer Care, Regional Fundraising Office (Northern Ireland) 60 Knock Road, Belfast, BT5 6LQ. Telephone 0289088 2060. |
Fundraising events in Northern Ireland
From a sponsored family walk to a mountain challenge, an abseil to a parachute jump - you name it, you can do it with the Marie Curie Cancer Care.
On signing up for an event, you'll become part of the Marie Curie Cancer Care family and we'll look after you from start to finish, supporting you all the way.
Select from the list of events in Northern Ireland below, or click here to read more about national and international events.
If you're looking to organise your own events please take a look at the section with information to organise your own event.
Belfast Brain Game
Is your company smart enough to see off the talents of its business rivals? Find out in the Belfast Brain Game on February 26, 2009.
Thursday February 26, 2009
Great Daffodil Ball, Cookstown Join us at our Great Daffodil Ball Friday March 13, 2009 at the Glenavon House Hotel.
Friday March 13, 2009
Great Daffodil Ball, Ballykelly Join us at our Great Daffodil Ball on Friday March 20, 2009 at the Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly.
Friday March 20, 2009
Scrabo Tower Abseil, Newtownards
If you have a head for heights and want to tower above the rest, why not join us on Saturday April 4, 2009 and take up the challenge of abseiling from one of Northern Ireland's most famous landmarks - Scrabo Tower.
Saturday April 4, 2009
Belvoir Forest Park Devoted to Life Walk
Join us for the Devoted to Life Walk at Belvoir Forest Park on Saturday April 25, 2009.
Saturday April 25, 2009
Belfast marathon
Take on the 28th Belfast City Marathon on Monday May 4, 2009 and raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Monday May 4, 2009
Omagh and Enniskillen Health and Wellbeing Day 2009
Treat yourself and a guest to a free complimentary therapy session at our Health and Wellbeing Day event.
Monday May 4, 2009
The Craigavon Cycle Trail
The Craigavon Cycle Trail is a ride through the Borough of Craigavon linking inland waterways, the shores of Lough Neagh and picturesque villages.
Thursday May 14, 2009
The Big Shoot
PULL the trigger and have yourself an amazing day out at Marie Curie Cancer Care's clay pigeon shooting and outdoor pursuits challenge.
