Support Marie Curie Cancer Care in 2010
IN 2008-2009 Marie Curie Nurses provided over 78,500 hours of care to more than 1100 patients in the community throughout Northern Ireland. Many more would have chosen to be at home if the option had been open to them.
During the same period hundreds more were cared for as in-patients and out-patients at the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast and at satellite services including Lagan Valley Hospital.
Voluntary
Approximately 70% of the charity s income comes from voluntary sources and Marie Curie Cancer Care is appealing for you to do something to help in 2010.
The charity also run a number of appeals throughout the year. The Great Daffodil Appeal is their annual fundraising campaign which aims for everyone to donate and wear a daffodil pin in March. This is achieved by having street and store collections during March and April, and placing daffodil boxes in shops and businesses. Anyone can help by organising a local collection, offer to collect for a couple of hours and deliver and harvest daffodil boxes.
2010 is the fourth year that Marie Curie has been the
charity partner for Swimathon, the world's biggest swim. Swimathon 2010
registration is now open; the event takes place at the end of April. Visit
www.swimathon.orgto register. You can take on the distance challenge of
I.5k, 2.5k or 5k on your own, or get together with some friends or
colleagues and do the 5k team challenge. Whether you want to run, take part
in a relay or walk you can take part in the 2010 Deep River Rock Belfast
City Marathon event on May 3 on behalf of the charity. Entries received
after March 26 attract a late entry fee so book your place now at
www.belfastcitymarathon.com There is a local fundraising group in
Lisburn/Hillsborough who are always on the lookout for new members who help
to organise a programme of fundraising activities. A recent event at
Larchfield Estate raised over £8k for the charity.
To find out more about the group contact Amanda at regional office on 9088 2067. Further information about the charity and other events can be found at www.mariecurie.org.uk
Grant launches Great Daffodil Appeal 2010
HUGH Grant has launched Marie Curie's Great Daffodil
Appeal calling on people all over the UK to make a donation and wear a
daffodil pin, the charity's emblem, throughout March. Hugh has supported the
charity as a fundraiser and ambassador since his mother died at home in
2001, cared for by Marie Curie Nurses. The actor has made a short film to
promote the appeal. The film can be viewed at
https://daffodil.mariecurie.org.uk
The film features charity fundraiser Maria Gleeson and Marie Curie Nurse Lorna McGarry.
Maria's husband Paul died two years ago and was cared for at home by Marie Curie Nurses. She first learned about the Marie Curie Nursing Service when she heard Hugh Grant being interviewed on the radio.
By this time her husband was critically ill and Maria was finding it difficult to cope on her own.
Maria said: "By 10pm that same day, we had a Marie Curie Nurse on our doorstep. The nurses were wonderful and gave some much needed emotional and practical support to all the family, allowing Paul to stay at home until he died."
Hugh said: "Like Maria, I know. from my own experience that Marie Curie Nurses provide care to terminally ill patients, allowing them to die in their own homes, which is where most of us would like to be. Marie Curie can't deliver this service without donations from the public and I urge everyone to dig in their pockets, make a donation and wear a daffodil with pride.
"Volunteer fundraisers will be out collecting in town centres throughout March and daffodil pins can also be picked up from thousands of local stores, schools and Marie Curie shops across the UK."
The care we are able to provide makes such a difference to patients and their loved ones," says Nurse Lorna in the film. "So often, we arrive in people's homes as professionals and leave as family friends."
Collections will be taking place throughout March and April. The Lisburn collection will be on Tuesday 27 April 2010.
The charity is hoping to raise £5m throughout the month long UK appeal. Money raised from the appeal will provide more free nursing care for people with a terminal illness in their own homes and the charity's hospices. For further information and to view the films please visit https://daffodil.mariecurie.org.uk
Paint the Town Yellow for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Throughout the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie Cancer Care is also turning sites all over the UK daffodil yellow. This includes Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, Trafalgar Square Fountains in London, The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, and The Trafford Centre in Manchester to raise awareness of the Great Daffodil Appeal.
To access a Marie Curie Nurse, speak to your GP or district nurse. For more information, please pay a visit to: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk
Ulster Star
12/03/2010
