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‘Great Big Daffodil’ of memories launches Daffodil Appeal

Press release published

Six UK cities, 1,500 miles, eight million daffodil pins, thousands of messages, memories and tributes, #everydaffodil

A striking super-sized daffodil will be touring the UK to launch Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal. The seven-foot-tall ‘Great Big Daffodil’ will go on a 1,500-mile journey visiting Swansea, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast and Edinburgh from 22nd February to 15th March.  

Marie Curie, the UK’s leading terminal illness charity, hopes the Great Big Daffodil will create somewhere for people to take a moment to reflect and remember those who are no longer with us. Visitors will be encouraged to leave memories and tributes to people who have been special to them in specially made paper books within the daffodil’s petals.

Marie Curie provides care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and this March around eight million people across the UK will choose to wear one of the charity’s daffodil pins for the Great Daffodil Appeal. Launched in 1986, the Appeal is crucial in raising much-needed funds to enable the charity to continue providing nursing and hospice care, a freephone support line and information for people living with any terminal illness such as terminal cancer, dementia, heart failure, and motor neurone disease.

The charity says that creating and sharing happy memories can help people prepare for bereavement and cope better with the loss of someone to a terminal illness.

Marie Curie Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: “In our busy lives, we often don’t have time to stop and pay tribute to the people that have been special to us. We know that most people find comfort in remembering loved ones who’ve died and taking a moment to reflect is what most people do to honour them.

“With the Great Big Daffodil we’re hoping to create something that will give people this moment. Whether they leave a message of support or solidarity or a poignant memory.”

Research for the charity found the majority of people find comfort in remembering happy memories of loved ones who have died (68%), our memories help us feel more connected to them (48%) and we enjoy reminiscing (44%). It also found taking a moment to reflect (53%), sharing memories with family and friends (46%), and cherishing special keepsakes (30%) were the top three ways people chose to honour the memories of loved ones who’ve died.*

Gerard Howell from Skewen, South Wales, was one of the first people to share a poignant message on the Great Big Daffodil, he wrote: “In memory of my wife Sandra who passed away in July and a massive thank you to Marie Curie for all the support they gave us.”

The Great Big Daffodil’s journey will culminate with each petal, full of messages and photos from each city, at an event in London on 20th March to celebrate the importance of memories in helping us grieve.

To support the Great Daffodil Appeal get your daffodil pin from volunteers on high streets around the UK, Marie Curie shops, Superdrug, Spar, Hotter and Wyevale Garden Centres.

To find out more about the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil. Share your memory using #everydaffodil. To Donate £5 to Marie Curie, text DAFF to 70111.

Notes to editor

For more information please contact:

 

The Great Big Daffodil will visit:

  • 22-23 February, The Quadrant shopping centre, Swansea
  • 25-27 February, Cabot Square, Bristol
  • 1-3 March, Arndale Centre, Manchester
  • 5-7 March, Grand Central, Birmingham
  • 9-11March, Castle Court, Belfast
  • 13-15  March, The Gyle Centre, Edinburgh

A range of media opportunities will be available in each of the locations the Great Big Daffodil visits including with Marie Curie Nurses; local celebrities, people whose loved ones have been supported by the charity; and those who simply want to share the personal story behind their daffodil.

* Survey of 2,700 UK adults who have been bereaved (not in the last 18 months) but do not have a terminal illness. Conducted by One Poll on behalf of Marie Curie from 26th February to 5th March 2018.

About Marie Curie & the Great Daffodil Appeal

  • Please note we are now called ‘Marie Curie’ – not Marie Curie Cancer Care
  • Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness.
  • 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 distributed each year.
  • £6 million was raised last year and £114 million total raised since the campaign began in 1986.
  • More than 2,000 Marie Curie Nurses work across the country in people’s homes and the charity’s nine hospices, providing 1.2 million hours of nursing care every year.
  • Daffodil pins are available from volunteers on high streets across the UK, Marie      Curie shops, and stores including Superdrug, Spar, Hotter and Wyevale Garden Centres.
  • Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or call 0800 304 7025 for more information.