Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing, totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families.

In 2008, Marie Curie Cancer Care is celebrating 60 years of caring for terminally ill cancer patients and we will use our 60th Anniversary to increase the number of patients that we care for , provide more free care to make this possible and raise more funds to support our work.

Cancer is the UK’s biggest killer, claiming 423 lives every day. Research has shown that most people dying of cancer would like to be cared for in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of their own home.  However, the majority of cancer deaths still occur in NHS hospitals. 

At Marie Curie Cancer Care, we think people with cancer should be able to decide where they spend the last few week of their life. We think that where you die should be your choice.

So for those patients who would like to be cared for at home, the Marie Curie Nursing Service plays a vital role. Our nurses work through the day or night, usually for 8 or 9 hours at a time, to care for the patient and allow the family to get some well-earned rest.  In addition to providing highly-valued nursing care for the patient – free of charge – Marie Curie Nurses are also there to give emotional support and advice to the family.

Every nursing hour provided costs £20 and at present, Marie Curie Nurses currently care for around half of all cancer patients who die at home -  over 1 million hours of practical nursing care. We’d like to reach the other half.

Thousands count on us but our priceless care costs millions to provide nationally and here in the Cheshire & North Staffs Fundraising Office we like to put the FUN in our fundraising whilst raising vital funds for a very serious cause. Money raised locally will be used to support our local Marie Curie Nurses.  Can we count on your support?

For more information about the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care please visit our website www.mariecurie.org.uk or contact Jane Wilkinson, Community Fundraising Manager for Cheshire & North Staffs on 0161 255 2800 or email jane.wilkinson@mariecurie.org.uk