Marie Curie receive £500,000 from National Gardens Scheme

Marie Curie’s successful partnership with the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) raised £500,000 during 2015 which helped the charity provide care and support to a total of 40,712 people living with a terminal illness and their families.

Throughout last year, more than 3,800 gardens across England and Wales opened their gates to the public raising the huge sum through visitors paying an entrance fee to the gardens, as well as enjoying the home-made teas on offer and plants for sale.   

Marie Curie’s 2,000 nurses provide free hands-on care and emotional support to people and their families across the UK living with a terminal illness in their own homes. The NGS has been supporting Marie Curie for 19 years with more than £6.9 million donated since 1997 making them the charity’s single biggest donor.

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said: “We are so grateful to have such a fantastic partnership with the NGS which continues to go from strength to strength. Our nurses often talk about the importance of gardens for people being looked after at home, and consider this as part of their care. Keen gardeners are brought out into their gardens to enjoy them or, when they are no longer able to manage this, have their bed moved so they can look out at everything they have nurtured over the years. The support from NGS makes this possible for thousands of people each year.”

Money raised from the NGS helps Marie Curie fund many services such as training Helper volunteers, to support people living with a terminal illness by visiting them regularly or helping them get to an appointment.

Nasir, who has motor neurone disease and was matched to Habib, his Helper volunteer, said: “Marie Curie realised I wanted to be active and for someone to take me outside. It’s very nice to have Habib as a Helper volunteer. It’s extra company and he’s like a son.”

Plans for the NGS 2016 are already underway with the annual festival weekend (4 and 5 June) which will see 400 gardens opening for the season and is expected to attract 50,000 visitors.

ENDS