Jenny Gilruth MSP lends support to Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal
Published date : 05 Mar 2021
Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth, is supporting Marie Curie’s 35th Great Daffodil Appeal this month, its biggest annual fundraiser, and encouraging her constituents to get involved.
Jenny has supported the Glenrothes Marie Curie Fundraising Group throughout her time as the constituency MSP. In September 2019 Jenny hosted her own Marie Curie Blooming Great Tea Party in Coaltown of Balgonie Bowling Club, which ran in conjunction with the Fundraising Group and raised over £280 that went directly towards helping Marie Curie Nurses care for more people living with a terminal illness across the UK.
The pandemic has forced the cancellation of all of the Appeal’s public collections for the first time in its 35-year history, leaving the charity with a potential loss of £750,000 in Scotland, and over £3 million across the UK.
The last 12 months have been extremely difficult as key fundraising events have been cancelled and all Marie Curie’s charity shops have had to close. Despite the cancelled collections, the charity is calling on the public to instead take part in virtual activities for the Appeal, including ordering an iconic daffodil pin online to show their support of the campaign which this year focuses on small gestures or moments which mean the world.
The charity needs to raise £250,000 per week in Scotland to ensure that Marie Curie nurses, doctors and hospice staff can continue supporting terminally people, their families and carers through its two hospices, nursing, and support services. across the country.
In Fife in 2019-20, Marie Curie Nurses made over 5,500 visits to care for terminally ill people in their own homes.
During the Great Daffodil Appeal the first annual National Day of Reflection will take place. Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions of people have been bereaved. On 23 March, the first anniversary of UK lockdown, Marie Curie is inviting everyone to take part in a minute’s silence at 12 noon to reflect on those who have died and then to appear on their doorsteps with candles, torches or simply lights from their mobile phones, for a second minute of silence at 8pm, to show support and solidarity for the millions of people who have been bereaved in these incredibly tough times.
Commenting on the appeal, Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth, said:
“Marie Curie is a vitally important organisation that provides crucial care and support for people living with a terminal illness both nationally and within my constituency. Raising funds in the local community for such a crucial organisation is a big step towards increasing national awareness.
‘‘I’m proud to support the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal & the Marie Curie Teams who have been on the frontline during COVID-19 delivering palliative care to those who need it most.
“Marie Curie has to raise £250k per week to support its frontline services. Their Great Daffodil Appeal is more important than ever this year following the tragic impact of COVID-19. By donating and wearing a daffodil pin in March, you’re helping support the Great Daffodil Appeal and the vital care they provide people living with terminal illness and their families.’’
Janet Henry, Glenrothes Marie Curie Fundraising Group, said:
“I am delighted that Jenny Gilruth MSP is supporting our efforts this month.
“We do have some collection cans in some local shops, and if you see one and have change to donate – that would be great! Unfortunately, many of the businesses that would normally support us are closed, and we are unable at this time to place our daffodil boxes due to coronavirus restrictions. We so miss seeing our smiling, friendly supporters, and having encouraging chats. Our nurses are still working just as hard, if not harder during this pandemic, and we need every penny we can raise to support them.
“We have set up an online Just Giving Page, to support our fundraising here in Fife, and donations to that page would be appreciated : www.justgiving.com/campaign/MCGlenrothes Thank you to all our supporters.”
ENDS
Notes
Marie Curie – Please note we are ‘Marie Curie’ (not ‘Marie Curie Cancer Care’).
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie Nurses, doctors and Hospice staff are on the frontline of the Coronavirus crisis. Every day they are helping to support dying people to be cared for away from hospital when every bit of available capacity is needed to care for people diagnosed with the virus, and we are also providing care to those who have tested positive for coronavirus in our Hospices and who are suspected as having the virus at home across the UK.
About the Great Daffodil Appeal
The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest fundraising campaign, held every March.
Every donation and daffodil worn helps Marie Curie provide vital care for people living with a terminal illness and support for their families.
8 million daffodil pins are normally distributed each year.
Around £100 million in total has been raised since the campaign began in 1986 which is the equivalent of 5 million hours of nursing care.
Daffodil pins are available from the Marie Curie website and shops on high streets across the country such as Morrisons, Superdrug, Savers and SPAR UK
Visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or call 0800 304 7025 for more information.
National Day of Reflection
National Day of Reflection will give the nation and communities a moment to remember, grieve and celebrate everyone who has died during this time and show support for our families, friends and colleagues who are grieving. The day is being led by Marie Curie and has been developed in partnership with other organisations who will get involved as part of a movement to support each other.
www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection
#DayOfReflection
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