Help paint the town daffodil yellow for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Marie Curie Cancer Care is asking everyone to help paint the town yellow by wearing a daffodil pin this March for its Great Daffodil 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.

Research shows around 65 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. Marie Curie Nurses make spending your final days at home possible, and the charity expects to provide care to around 29,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year.

Anna Menon, one of the charity’s Nursing Ambassadors, explains why your support is so crucial. She said:

“Every March, the Great Daffodil Appeal is our chance to join together and help make it possible for more terminally ill patients to spend their last days surrounded by loved ones, with all the comforts of home close by.

“As a Marie Curie Nurse, I’ve seen first hand just how much this can mean at what is such an incredibly difficult time. Unlike in a hospital, I’m able to make my patient my one and only priority. And it’s wonderful to know I can offer them quality, personalised care without any interruptions. But best of all, I am able to support and spend time with some of the most amazing and loving families – each with their own unique needs, fears and emotions.

“That’s why, during the Great Daffodil Appeal, I always know that behind every daffodil pin I see there is a story – a story of love, of laughter, of very special moments spent together.

“So when you pick up your daffodil pin this March, I’d like to ask you take a moment to think about your own story – the one that made you want to support Marie Curie Cancer Care.

“It might be that, like me, your story is of someone very close to you. I lost my best friend to cancer just last year, and every time I look at my daffodil pin, I’ll be thinking of all the wonderful times we shared. But no matter what your reason is, I hope you will join me in supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal this year. Without your help, Marie Curie Nurses like me would simply be unable to care for people with terminal cancer when it really matters the most.”

•    Daffodil pins can be picked up from local stores, schools, street collectors and Marie Curie Shops across the UK throughout March. People with a couple of hours to spare can turn these into Marie Curie nursing hours by joining their local team of volunteer collectors, or by organising their own fundraising event.

•    For further information about the appeal or to find out how you can help, please call the Daffodil Hotline on 0845 601 3107 (local rate) or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

•    To access a Marie Curie Nurse, speak to your GP or district nurse.

Behind every daffodil, there is a story

“I’m wearing my daffodil pin for my mum and dad, both of whom were cared for by Marie Curie Nurses. Marie Curie Nurses are so vitally important, because they do the overnight shift for you. Having someone come into your house, let you get some sleep, answer any questions you have and just be a reassuring presence at night-time is amazing. Knowing you can go and have a sleep, and someone will come in and wake you if anything happens – that’s absolutely priceless.”

Stephen Mangan, Marie Curie Cancer Care supporter and actor

“I’m wearing my daffodil in loving memory of my husband, Frank. When we were told his cancer was terminal, we were desperate for him to remain at home. Our local doctor referred us to the Marie Curie Nursing Service, and when Pat Brown, our Marie Curie Nurse, turned up on the doorstep, it was like having an angel walk into the house.”

Vivien Thompson, Marie Curie Cancer Care supporter

Source: Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal