AMs and pupils ‘get behind the daffodil’ at Marie Curie launch in Wales

Assembly Members joined forces with schoolchildren to ‘get behind the daffodil’ at the official Wales launch of the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal at the Senedd today (Tuesday 9^th February).

The Great Daffodil Appeal, now in its 30^th year, is Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign and was launched by Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Jane Hutt AM, and Marie Curie Chief Executive Dr Jane Collins.

The appeal is encouraging people in Wales 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, Superdrug stores, WHSmiths shops and Wyevale garden centres and many other locations throughout February and March.

The Tuesday 9^th February launch event gave Marie Curie the opportunity to showcase some of its work in Wales – most notably the work that the charity’s Caring for Carers project is doing to provide support for young carers.

Last year Marie Curie helped fund the distribution of the ‘I Care… Do You?’ board game, which highlights the issues faced by young carers, to young people in West Wales. Pupils from Ysgol Greenhill School in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, were among the first to play the game last year, and they attended the Senedd launch to show Assembly Members the benefits of the game.

Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, added: “It is fantastic to see so many of my Assembly colleagues ‘getting behind the daffodil’ to support this year’s Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. 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.”

The event also saw some of Wales’ top fundraising volunteers honoured for their support of the charity. The Outstanding Contribution to Fundraising in Wales award was presented to the Cardiff Fundraising Group, who have raised over £75,000 for Marie Curie. Meanwhile, Sandra Chadwick was named North Wales Fundraiser of the Year, Nerys Thomas received the South Wales Fundraiser of the Year title, and the West Wales Fundraisers of the Year award went to the charity’s Bridgend and Porthcawl Fundraising Group.

The awards were presented by Vaughan Gething AM, Deputy Minister for Health. He said: “I am delighted to once again help launch the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. From speaking to the Marie Curie Nurses who are here today, it is clear that they really do go the extra mile to provide care and support for people when they need it the most and the funds raised through this appeal really do make a difference.”

Simon Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Wales for Marie Curie, said: “It is pleasing that so many of our Assembly Members have joined us today to launch the start of this important appeal.

“Every year we are astounded by the level of support we receive from the people of Wales, and I hope we can rely on their backing once again as we raise vital funds to support people living with a terminal illness, and their families, across Wales. I pass on a heartfelt thank you to all those who volunteer to collect, and those who stop to donate, for enabling the charity to continue its vital work.”

Last year volunteers in Wales helped raise more than £260,000 by collecting donations from members of the public.

For more information about the Great Daffodil Appeal and to volunteer to collect for Marie Curie please call 0845 601 3107* or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil. To donate £5 text *DAFF to 70111 or call 0800 716 146 to donate over the phone.

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