TERMINAL illness charity, Marie Curie is appealing for volunteers to give a few hours of their time to hand out small boxes of its iconic daffodil pins to Crediton shops in return for donations.

The charity is hoping to get more people than ever wearing the daffodil pin during its annual fundraiser; the Great Daffodil Appeal this March.

Marie Curie says that the appeal is urgently needed as one in four people currently don’t receive the care and support they need at the end of their life, and with the population getting older, demand on the charity’s services is set to increase.

The money raised will help Marie Curie Nurses be there for more people living with a terminal illness, providing them with vital one-to-one nursing care and support in their own homes.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Devon, Connie Thomas said: “Volunteering to hand out daffodil boxes is a fun and easy way to get involved in the local community. You can hand them out with a friend or partner and know that you are helping Marie Curie be there when we are needed most.

“Chances are, we all know someone who’s been affected by a terminal illness. And it’s heartbreaking that not everyone gets the care and support they need to live their final days with dignity, in the place they want to be. Our nurses care for people in their own homes, providing one-to-one care overnight and support for family members. And we’re always here with expert information, guidance or just a shoulder to lean on.

Every daffodil helps us care for more people – this is what makes the Great Daffodil Appeal so important.”

Specifically in Crediton, Connie is also looking for a local co-ordinator to pop into some local shops and businesses to hand out collection boxes, and then to collect them after the appeal.

She currently has no volunteer collectors in Crediton.

Sisters Sian and Sarah will both be volunteering in Devon for the Great Daffodil Appeal this March after their mother, Shirley, was cared for by Marie Curie before her death from stomach cancer in January 2017.

Sian says: “When Marie Curie was looking after our mum, the nurses were kind, caring and patient and nothing was too much trouble. Without Marie Curie, I don’t think we would have got through the last few weeks of mum’s life as well as we did. We will be forever in debt to Marie Curie, and we cannot thank them enough. Volunteering to collect is a great way for us to start to give back to the charity. It’s what mum would want.

“The best thing about volunteering to collect is definitely meeting people. People will stop for a chat and tell you about their experiences of how Marie Curie helped them. I really like doing it together with my sister, although we can get a bit competitive over how much we’ve raised!”

Those wishing to volunteer a few hours of their time to the Great Daffodil Appeal or to find out more about the appeal, can visit the website: www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil or call free on 0800 304 7025 or email Connie at: [email protected] .

Alan Quick