Charity of the week: Marie Curie Cancer Care

Marie Curie Cancer Care, which assists terminally ill patients, is running its annual Great Daffodil Appeal throughout March, to raise funds to assist its nursing care in hospitals.

The charity, named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Marie Curie, was founded in the early 50s with the aim of raising funds to provide cancer patients with appropriate structures and staff and to find out “what the best possible care is and how best to provide it”.

It also campaigns to ensure that patients have the right to decide for the end of their life and where this should take place.

Through the Great Daffodil Appeal, which runs throughout March, Marie Curie Cancer Care wants to raise funds to pay for nursing care, in order to assist people with terminal illnesses and their families.

An £80 donation allows a nurse to spend the evening caring for someone with a terminal illness at his or her home, while £160 pays a nurse to look after someone through the night.

In Ledbury, volunteers helped raise more than £900 as of March 18, while the appeal was backed by Scottish MP Alison McInnes, who said, “Everyone I have met has nothing but praise for the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses and I am delighted to be able to help support this valuable cause.

“Some 70% of the charity’s income comes from donations so the public has a key role in ensuring that this good work can continue”.

There is still time to contribute to fund the work of the charities and assist terminal cancer patients and their families. To donate, click here.

Further reading:

‘Alarming’ rise of cancer in developing world expected

Charitable sector ‘emerging from recession’, says Charity Bank

10 biggest philanthropic donations of 2013 reach $20bn

Philanthropy is what sustains the charitable sector, not money

The Guide to Philanthropy & Giving 2013