Paul Chuckle MBE was in Penarth on Saturday as he embarked on a ‘Thank you’ tour of the UK to celebrate 40 years of the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal.
He visited the charity’s shop on Windsor Road, joined a charity collection with fundraising volunteers and met special guests on his Daff bike – a Marie Curie-branded Chuckle bike.
Paul met some staff who work at the charity’s Cardiff and the Vale Hospice on Bridgeman Road in the town – Emma Grant, Kathryn Guerico and Debbie Morgan – as well as Neil Andrews, whose mum and mother-in-law both received support from the charity in their final days.
He also met members of the public and asked all who came to share a special song in memory of someone who was close to them.
Neil, from Cardiff, ran the Cardiff Marathon after his mum and mother-in-law received Marie Curie care. He chose the Tom Jones song, With These Hands.
“If there was one thing I’d want everyone to know about Marie Curie is that they’re not just there to look after someone who’s terminally ill,” he said.
“They’re there to look after a family who are also supporting that person and to try and make it a more manageable period of time.
“Marie Curie weren’t just there for my mother and mother-in-law but there for us as a family as well. Whether it was to talk and ask questions, or in the midnight hour so we could get some sleep. In my opinion Marie Curie are angels without wings.
“It’s been such a delight to meet Paul today and share our story with him. Support from well known faces like Paul’s are great to raise awareness of a charity that means so much to so many.
Marie Curie Inpatient Nurse Manager, Emma Grant, said: “It’s been so exciting to welcome Paul to Penarth and talk to him about the important work we do at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale, including the round-the-clock person-centred care we provide to people on our inpatient ward, and the support we offer via our Wellbeing and Support Hub on site.
“Knowing he is taking this opportunity to thank staff and volunteers for the past 40 years of the Great Daffodil Appeal and raise awareness of the cause is really humbling, and I want to thank him for all he does to support the charity. Thank you also to everyone who donated today.”
Paul Chuckle MBE, Marie Curie ambassador, said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be a Marie Curie ambassador. Marie Curie helped care for my brother Barry at the end of his life in 2018, so it’s a charity very close to my heart.
“When you think about it, there’s only one chance to give someone the best possible end of life. That’s why the Great Daffodil Appeal is so important. Every penny raised will help Marie Curie provide expert end of life care and support to people with a terminal illness and those close to them. So, when I heard it was the 40th anniversary of the Great Daffodil Appeal, I knew I wanted to do something big, and something fun.
“Whilst I’d love to be able to cycle the iconic John O’Groats to Land’s End route like so many incredible fundraisers do, I’m really excited to get to travel the route with the ‘Daff bike’, raise lots of money for the charity and meet as many Marie Curie supporters, volunteers and staff as possible to say a huge thank you – from me to you!”
The stop in Penarth was part of his tour from John O’Groats to Lands’ End, during which he aims to raise £40,000 for the charity’s flagship annual fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal.
Paul Chuckle and his brother Barry became official Marie Curie ambassadors in 2016, and Paul has continued to be an active supporter of the charity after experiencing the invaluable care that Barry received from Marie Curie at the end of his life in 2018.
The Great Daffodil Appeal marks 40 years in 2026, and the fundraiser raises much needed funds by encouraging the public to wear a daffodil pin and donate. The money raised as part of the Great Daffodil Appeal will fund vital and expert care to more people at the end of their life.
