Health&Beauty
Daffodil Appeal
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nd of life charity Marie Curie is calling on residents of Dorset to support its flagship fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal— which is reaching its 35th anniversary next month—and has, for the first time, had to cancel all of their iconic public collections for the campaign. After an extremely difficult 12 months, the charity is facing a potential loss of Alison Steadman over £3 million due to the cancelled public collections but has a variety of creative ways that people in Dorset can support the campaign this year including donning their trainers and ‘stepping up for Marie Curie’ by walking 10,000 steps every day throughout March. All donations from the Great Daffodil Appeal will ensure that Marie Curie Nurses can continue working on the frontline, providing end of life care in people’s homes throughout Dorset and the South West. Stephanie Sterndale-Bennett, Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Dorset, said: “The Great Daffodil Appeal is vitally important to us. Having been held every March for over three decades, this is the first time we’ve had to cancel all of our public collections. This is a huge blow as each volunteer would usually raise an average £80 from a collection shift: enough to pay for the equivalent of four hours of nursing care. “In these unprecedented times we need peoples’ support now more than ever. From simply making a donation and wearing a daffodil pin to hosting a virtual ‘Wear Yellow Day’—we’ve created a wide range of fundraising ideas in the hope that we have something to suit everyone.” Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie Ambassador, said: “I have seen first-hand the incredible difference Marie Curie makes and just how important their work is in caring for people with a terminal illness and their families. The loving care they gave my mum when she was dying is something that I’ll never forget and will always remember. I don’t know how we would have managed as a family without the Marie Curie Nurses and doctors and dread to think about what it would mean if they weren’t there for all the families that need them. “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 the UK to show their support in any way they can in March for this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Every donation means that when the time comes, Marie Curie can be there for people and their loved ones when they need it most.” During the Great Daffodil Appeal the first annual National Day of Reflection will take place. Since the first lockdown began in 2020, millions of people have been bereaved. Join Marie Curie on 23 March, the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown, for a day to reflect and commemorate this tragic loss of life. For more information please email Steph.Sterndale-Bennett@ mariecurie.org.uk or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil 46 The Marshwood Vale Magazine March 2021 Tel. 01308 423031
Rainbow Campaign reaches local towns and villages
Local support is much appreciated by NHS staff
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small initiative started by a group of friends determined to show appreciation for NHS staff working on the frontline in local hospitals has taken off across Dorset and South Somerset. After careful research and in consultation with Dorchester Community Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital, the Nurturing Hospital Staff (NHS Rainbow) campaign has taken off across more than 50 local villages and towns. Weekly collections of specific items, designed to give staff a treat and a bit of a pamper, have soared. The campaign has so far collected nearly 1,000 individual donations of hand cream, lip balm, shower & bath gels/soaks, scented candles, eye masks, moisturisers, relaxation and sleep treats and will run into March 2021. The feedback from both hospitals has been tremendous: ‘Thank you for all of this hard work, it really is appreciated. As you can imagine the stress levels are quite high at the moment, so being able to support our staff with these items will bring a much needed morale boost’ said a spokesperson from Yeovil District Hospital ‘As you can see the staff were absolutely delighted to receive these gifts and were really overwhelmed with our ongoing support and generosity. It certainly brought a lot of cheer and smiles and perked everyone up.’ The campaign would like to thank all the village shops, garden centres and service stations who have agreed to take a box. If you would like to give your donation, please check the live map for your nearest collection box: https://www. google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=17GLpxNMNFoOCb WBSOx3kxdAm0G2rlUhg&ll=50.86998905878451%2C2.6558713025390657&z=11 If you’d like to set up a box in your local shop, garden centre or garage, please contact: mjattwood1@hotmail.co.uk.
