North Wales MS Mark Isherwood is calling on the people of North Wales to share ‘why they wear their daffodil’ as leading end of life charity Marie Curie launches its biggest annual fundraising appeal.
He is also calling on people across North Wales to give just two hours of their time to hand out the charity’s iconic daffodil pins in return for donations.
Earlier this week, Mr Isherwood joined the virtual launch of The Great Daffodil Appeal – which was forced to cancel its public collections for the past two years due to the pandemic.
Participants heard about how the charity has continued to support people at end of life and bereaved people throughout the pandemic. Last year Marie Curie provided direct support to nearly 3,000 people in Wales.
The charity is dependent on public donations so that its nurses can continue working on the frontline caring for people at the end of life in their own homes and at the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale Hospice in Penarth. Donations also support its Information and Support line, which provides a listening ear to anyone dealing with any aspect of death, dying and bereavement.
During the Great Daffodil Appeal the annual National Day of Reflection will take place. On 23 March, the charity is encouraging everyone to wear a daffodil pin and take a moment to show their support for the millions of people bereaved during the pandemic and remember the people we’ve lost.
Communities are also being encouraged to create their own Walls of Reflection and contribute memories of loved ones who’ve died. People might choose to include photos, poems, objects, music, stories, articles, hobbies and other memories as the display builds up in the 2 weeks before the day itself.
Marie Curie will provide a downloadable toolkit and encourage people to add their public walls to the map on their website.
Mr Isherwood, said:
“The work Marie Curie do is needed now more than ever as the Covid pandemic has had a big impact on their ability to fundraise. That is why I’m encouraging people across the whole of North Wales to show their support for the Great Daffodil Appeal in any way they can as every donation means that when the time comes, Marie Curie can be there for people and their loved ones when they need it most.
“My daffodil is for all the people I work with as Chair of the Cross-Party Groups on Hospices and Palliative Care and on Funerals and Bereavement in the Senedd and I’ll be wearing it on the National Day of Reflection to connect with all who have been bereaved over the past 2 years. I hope my constituents will be able to create their own Walls of Reflection to remember those people they’ve loved and lost.”
Marie Curie Senior Community Fundraiser for North Wales, Victoria Hardy, said:
“We’re so excited that this year we’ll be dusting off our big yellow hats and getting back out there again to host our much-loved collections.
“We can’t do this alone, though. We rely on volunteers to donate their time to help us raise as much money as we can so that we can continue to work across North Wales and ensure Marie Curie is there for terminally ill people, and their families in their final days, weeks, months.”
To sign-up to volunteer to collect for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal in North Wales, visit Mariecurie.org.uk/collect
To sign up to the National Day of Reflection visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection