Chris Huhne MP supports Marie Curie  charity shop

Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, visited the Marie Curie Shop on Lower Northam Road in Hedge End to highlight the importance of re-using goods in support of charity.

Huhne visited the shop to donate some of his unwanted clothing, books and bric-a-brac, which the charity will re-sell to raise funds for local Marie Curie Nurses who provide free care to patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.

The Association of Charity Shops estimates that last year 192,000 tonnes of textiles were sold in-store by charities for direct – and local – reuse. In 2006, consultants Oakdene Hollins estimated that reuse of textiles saves up to 33kg of CO2e per kilo reused, compared to disposal. This gives us an estimated annual carbon saving of up to 6.3 million tonnes of CO2e from in-store charity shop sales alone.

Meeting staff, volunteers and local Marie Curie Nurse, Alison White, at the Shop, Chris Huhne MP said: “Research shows there are 8,819 patients with a potential palliative care need across my PCT.* The charity is providing expert support but wants to help more people with end of life care needs.

“By recycling some of my unwanted goods at my local shop not only am I helping to reduce land fill and increase our carbon saving, I’m helping Marie Curie Cancer Care make it possible for more people with cancer and other illnesses to have the high quality care and support they need at the end of their life in the place of their choice.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Shops Area Manager, Sheena Barrow said, “Going green not only helps the environment but every donation to our shop – whether clothing, books or other items – and every purchase made will help us continue to fund our local Marie Curie Nursing Service.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care believes that good quality palliative and end of life care is vital for patients, families and carers. The charity wants to ensure everyone has access to the highest quality of care, in the place of their choice.

16 Marie Curie Nurses provided more than 1,000 hours of care to people in Huhne’s Eastleigh Constituency last year.

If you or someone you know would like to get help from the Marie Curie Nursing Service speak to your GP, district nurse or discharge nurse.

Find out more about Marie Curie Nursing Services.

-ENDS-

References

See Recycling of Low Grade Clothing Waste, September 2006

* ‘Palliative care need’ defined by Higginson, I. 2001. The Palliative Care for Londoners: Needs, Experiences, Outcomes and Future Strategy. NHS Executive London Region. This figure is calculated as number needing palliative care = all cancer deaths plus 67% of all other deaths, using mortality information sources: England & Wales taken from Office for National Statistics, full year data for 2007, Scotland from General Records Office, full year data for 2007, and Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, full year data for 2006.