Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, and Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs have joined forces to ‘Make Every Daffodil Count’ this March and help Marie Curie provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness.
Mr Evans and long-term Marie Curie supporter Jason were pictured together with Marie Curie Nurses, Sally Monger-Godfrey and Lib Wolley at a parliamentary event in Westminster to celebrate the launch of the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign.
Nigel pledged his support to the appeal and is encouraging local people to help the charity raise more money than ever before by simply giving a donation and wearing a Marie Curie daffodil pin, available from volunteers across the country, or Superdrug, Spar and Poundworld stores, and Wyevale Garden Centres, during March. Morrisons supermarkets will also be holding GDA fundraising collections on 10, 11 & 12 March.
Nigel said:
“It is vitally important that those with terminal illnesses are given the support which they deserve. I think that the care currently offered to a number of patients is inadequate and this must be changed.
“Around 1500 die each year in the Ribble Valley and roughly three quarters of these need and benefit from some form of palliative care. That’s just a few more than one thousand people a year who will use end of life care in the Ribble Valley. Marie Curie are doing excellent work in caring for these people but more needs to be done to support them.
“Please buy a daffodil pin to show your support.”
Jason, who is best known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, said:
“I’m delighted to be here with Nigel to help launch Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal.
“Please help us make every daffodil count. The charity is also calling on more people to help with local collections. Volunteering a couple hours of your time will make such a difference to the care and support that Marie Curie can provide.”
Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said: “Having the support of Mr Evans and Jason makes a huge difference to Marie Curie in terms of raising awareness about what we do and helping us to reach more people who need us.
“One in four people miss out on the care and support they need at the end of life. We don’t think that's good enough. That’s why we are asking MPs to help support our annual Marie Curie fundraising appeal to help enable us to reach more people affected by terminal illness.”
“Our services rely on charitable donations, so I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who gives a donation and wears a daffodil pin during March.”
Sally Monger Godfrey, Marie Curie Nurse and face of The Great Daffodil Appeal, said: “Make every daffodil count. Your daffodil means I can care for someone in their own home, and be there for them through the night. You make a difference to people at the end of their lives, which in many ways is just as important as at the start.”
For more information about volunteering for a local collection call 0800 304 7025 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil. The Great Daffodil Appeal encourages everyone to give a donation in return for a daffodil pin during March. Money raised helps Marie Curie Nurses provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness and their families.