The national terminal illness charity, Marie Curie, has recognised the success of its Welsh fundraisers, after they collectively raised more than £150,000, at an event marking the start of its annual Great Daffodil Appeal.
Marie Curie staff and supporters attended the event at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 5th February to celebrate the start of the campaign, which is now in its 34th year.
Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Care, presented the four Welsh winners with awards, acknowledging their hard work in raising much needed funds for the organisation. The Llanelli-based choir, Cor Curiad, were given the Outstanding Contribution award after raising £22,000 for the charity since 2017.
Both the Caerphilly and the Mumbles and Gower Fundraising Groups were also presented with awards along with Mark and Kathleen Harvey, who were named the North and Mid-Wales Fundraisers of the Year for their efforts.
Jane Hutt, Assembly Member for the Vale of Glamorgan, who sponsored the event said:
“I am delighted to be able to support Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal again this year. The work the organisation does to support people living with a terminal illness across Wales and the UK is inspiring, so it’s important that we help raise awareness of the campaign so those who need support the most don’t miss out.”
“It is fantastic to see so many of my Assembly colleagues ‘getting behind the daffodil’ and I hope the people of Wales will follow suit by making a donation and wearing their Marie Curie daffodil with pride this February and March. It really does make a huge difference.”
Every year Marie Curie cares for around 3,500 terminally ill people across Wales. The charity has around 150 Marie Curie Nurses working in the community as well as providing specialist care for patients at its Cardiff and the Vale hospice in Penarth.
The charity helps people across the UK living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.
The organisation needs to raise £500,000 every day to ensure it can continue delivering vital care to terminally ill people across the country. The Great Daffodil appeal has raised £120million since it began in 1986 and around 6 million daffodil pins were distributed last year.
Simon Jones, director of policy and public affairs at Marie Curie said:
“We are immensely grateful for the support our dedicated fundraisers give us and it’s fantastic to be able to recognise some of them today. It is inspiring to see the dedication they show and they are vital members of the Marie Curie family.”
“Our services rely on charitable donations, so I’d like to express a heartfelt thank you to everyone who gives a donation and wears a daffodil pin this February and March. The money raised from the Great Daffodil Appeal will help Marie Curie Nurses provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones, in homes across Wales, as well as in the charity’s Cardiff & the Vale Hospice in Penarth.”
