Volunteers hailed at Marie Curie awards
Press release published
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Actor Stephen Mangan was amongst the Marie Curie supporters recognised at the charity's National Volunteer Achievement Awards at Goodenough College in Bloomsbury, London on November 26, 2010. Stephen was presented The Above & Beyond in Memory of Sir Bill Cotton award by Marie Curie Cancer Care Chairman Sir Peter Davis at the awards ceremony, in recognition of his contribution to the charity. Stephen fronted Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal in 2009 and 2010, devoting a huge amount of his time taking part in activities such as interviews with the media, where he spoke extensively about the loss of both his parents to cancer and the importance of the charity during these difficult times. Stephen also worked with us on the production of a film to call for volunteers for our Great Daffodil Appeal this year, which was so successful we are using it again for 2011. Volunteers from around the UK received awards at the Volunteer Achievement Awards, which have been established to celebrate the commitment, enthusiasm and personal contribution made by volunteers across the charity and recognise outstanding individuals and group volunteer efforts. Stephen Mangan said: "My parents spent their last weeks at home, which was what we all wanted, and this was made possible because of the help given by Marie Curie nurses. I'm hugely grateful for the assistance and support they gave during that time and it's been an honour to be an ambassador for Marie Curie." The volunteers received a specially commissioned Caithness Glass paperweight and certificate at the special awards presentation ceremony. Marie Curie is looking for local stars to volunteer behind the scenes with the planning that will make the Great Daffodil Appeal 2011 happen. Could you be a Collection Organiser helping to arrange a street collection in your local community or a Local Appeal Coordinator, working with your Marie Curie community fundraising team to plan the local appeal? Whether you've got two hours or two days a week to spare, join your local team of volunteers by calling Marie Curie Cancer Care now on 0845 601 3107 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil -ENDS- |
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Marie Curie is one of the UK's largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 29,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
Funding
Around 70 per cent of the charity's income comes from the generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the balance of our funds coming from the NHS.
Marie Curie Nurses
The charity is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end-of-life care, totally free for patients in their own homes.
Research
The charity has two centres for palliative care research, The Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit at University College London and The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute in Liverpool.
It also funds seven fundamental scientific research groups which investigate the causes and treatments of cancer. This research was previously carried out at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Oxted, Surrey. The programmes are now located in universities around the country, and will receive funding from the charity until 2012.
Supporting the choice to die at home
Research shows around 65 per cent of people would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, with a sizeable minority opting for hospice care. However, more than 50 per cent of cancer deaths still occur in hospital, the place people say they would least like to be. Since 2004 Marie Curie has been campaigning for more patients to be able to make the choice to be cared for and die at home.
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- Volunteering