Marion helps appeal bloom

OLDHAM is officially in bloom as Marie Curie Cancer Care launches its annual Great Daffodil Appeal.

Chadderton volunteer Marion Goodwin, who has lost her mum and sister to cancer, helped to get the campaign going along with her 14-year-old son, Craig.

Marion (44) is organising local supermarket collections and is asking the people of Oldham to make a donation to the charity in return for a daffodil pin.

Organisers hope to raise £100,000 throughout the month-long local appeal to help give thousands of people with cancer and other terminal illnesses free end-of-life care in their own homes from Marie Curie nurses.

Marion, of Whitegate Avenue, first volunteered last Christmas after reading an appeal as cancer is a cause very close to her heart.

She said: “I’ve lost both my mum and sister to cancer and have undergone treatment for cancer myself, so I wanted to do my bit to help others.”.

Marie Curie Cancer Care fund-raiser Hannah Taylor said “We are very grateful to Marion and Craig for helping with our Great Daffodil Appeal this year. Marion’s been such a great help organising the collections and she has done a fantastic job.

“Marion and Craig will be joining our other volunteers collecting at supermarkets to help ensure more people get to die peacefully at home surrounded by their family after receiving the very best care.

“We have five dedicated Marie Curie nurses in Oldham who will provide over 3,555 hours of care this year.

“We are determined to provide the support and specialist care needed to make the choice to die at home a reality. This year we will be providing more care than ever.

“This year alone we need to raise an extra £5,893 to fund our increase in service in Oldham.”

To volunteer for the Great Daffodil Appeal or for more information about a new volunteer support group in Oldham and help Marie Curie Cancer Care provide care for terminally ill people and support for their loved ones, call Hannah Taylor on 0161-255 2809 or e-mail hannah.taylor@mariecurie.org.uk.”