Brendan Rodgers launches the Great Daffodil Appeal in Wales

The man who brought the Premier League to Wales teams up with Marie Curie Cancer Care to bring the Great Daffodil Appeal to Wales.

Brendan Rodgers was joined at the Liberty Stadium today by local Marie Nurse, Elizabeth Sherwood, to launch the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal in Wales. The Swansea City FC Manager is backing the appeal by asking people across Wales to make a donation to the charity during March and wear a daffodil pin to support Marie Curie Nurses.

All money raised from the month long appeal will help provide more free nursing care for people with a terminal illness in their own homes and at the Marie Curie Hospice, Penarth. The Swans boss has been a long term supporter of the charity, including raising thousands of pounds last summer when he took on the challenge of climbing Africa’s highest peak for the charity’s partnership with The Football League.

Brendan said:

“At the end of last season I took on one of the most challenging experiences of my life to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro for Marie Curie. I met a lot of football fans on that trip who, like me, were dedicating the challenge to loved ones they had lost.

“Having experienced losing both of my parents, I know how important it is to be able to have your family around you at the end, making the most of the time you have. I really admire the work of Marie Curie Nurses who make it possible for people to be looked after at home, surrounded by family, which is why I’ll be wearing my daffodil throughout March.

“Swans’ fans and people across Wales have supported me throughout the highs and lows and I’m appealing for everyone to wear their daffodil this March to support Marie Curie Nurses.”

Liz Sherwood, Local Marie Curie Nurse, said:

“Research shows that 67 per cent of people in Wales would choose to die in their own home if they were terminally ill - yet the majority of people in Wales still die in hospital; where they say they least want to be.

“Marie Curie is working to ensure more people are able to spend their final days in a place of their choice and every donation for a daffodil will help Marie Curie Nurses provide more free nursing care, for people at home or at the Marie Curie Hospice in Penarth. So please support Marie Curie Nurses and help us make a difference by wearing a daffodil in March.”

There are lots of Great Daffodil Appeal fundraising events to get involved in including Wear something yellow to work day on Friday 2 March, where workplaces across Wales can add a splash of colour to the day and to raise money for Marie Curie at the same time.

Daffodil pins can be picked up from local stores, Marie Curie volunteer collectors, Marie Curie Shops and the charity’s website throughout March.

For more information on how to get involved in the Great Daffodil Appeal, please contact Marie Curie Cancer Care on 0845 601 3107 or visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

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