Look To The Stars News: Marie Curie Cancer Care

British Celebrities Back Charity Swimathon

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:30:00 +0000

British TV presenter Gail Porter and Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew MBE have given celebrity power to the launch of a great charity initiative – Swimathon 2011.

The pair are encouraging people to sign up for the challenge which will raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation. Swimathon 2011 is set to hit a record 580 pools across the UK between April 8-10, when 22,000 swimmers will raise more than £2 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation.

JustGiving.com Announces Top Celebrity Charity Fundraisers

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:00:00 +0000

JustGiving.com has released the results of a survey into the top celebrity fundraisers in the UK.

Adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes – who has raised over £2.5 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care over the past two years – came out in top place in the report. Other stars to feature include Little Britain star David Walliams and his wife, Lara Stone, as well as singer Katherine Jenkins, rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio and Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones.

The survey is based on an analysis of total funds raised from January 2009 to December 2010.

Hugh Grant Accepts Donation From Paul Newman's Charity

Tue, 25 May 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Hollywood actor Hugh Grant collected a $116,000 grant for Marie Curie Cancer Care from Newman’s Own Foundation.

Marie Curie Cancer Care will use the money to fund two Marie Curie Nurses for two years, who will provide free nursing care to terminally ill people in their own homes.

Roger Daltrey's Celebrity Band Helps Launch Charity WorkHub

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The Who’s Roger Daltrey attended the launch of a new charity job centre in the UK last week that caters for people with learning difficulties.

The RD Crusaders WorkHub has been set up by Norwood, a charity that supports thousands of people with learning disabilities.

The launch follows a fundraising drive that began two years ago, when Daltrey’s star-studded supergroup, The RD Crusaders, played a concert in Old Billingsgate Market to an audience that included Sarah Ferguson and Elizabeth Hurley. Formed in 2003 by Daltrey and newspaper publisher and Norwood president Richard Desmond, the RD Crusaders consists of band members such as Elkie Brooks, Lulu, Russ Ballard of Argent (who was also at the launch), Rick Wills, Steve Smith and a number of others who join for special gigs – including Gary Moore, Robert Plant Gary Brooker and more. The band has raised millions of dollars for charities such as the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Evelina Children’s Hospital appeal and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Hugh Grant Launches Charity Daffodil Appeal With Video

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Hugh Grant has launched Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal calling on people all over the UK to make a donation and wear a daffodil pin – the charity’s emblem – throughout March.

Hugh has supported the charity as a fundraiser and ambassador since his mother died at home in 2001, cared for by Marie Curie Nurses. The actor has made a short film to promote the appeal. The film can be viewed here.

Tennis Greats Sign Shirt For Charity

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Tennis fans only have a few days left to get their hands on a very special T-shirt signed by two of the game’s greatest players.

Buy Once Give Twice – Britain’s premier celebrity charity auction site – is serving up a fantastic Wimbledon shirt autographed by Roger Federer and Andy Murray, with proceeds to go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The charity funds specially trained nurses across Britain who care for terminal cancer patients who want to die at home rather than in a hospice or hospital.

Hugh Grant Supports Newspaper Charity Campaign

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Actor Hugh Grant has thrown his support behind a campaign being run by a newspaper in North West England to raise money for cancer nurses.

The actor was in Bolton to help launch a campaign being run by The Bolton News that aims to raise over $200,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses, who care for terminal cancer patients who want to die at home.

“I know from my own experience how important it is to have someone you love die at home, cared for by a Marie Curie nurse,” said the 48-year-old – whose mother died of pancreatic cancer in 2001 – told the newspaper. "That’s why I’m supporting the Bolton nursing appeal; £20 can pay for an hour of care but you don’t have to just donate your money, you could get sponsored to take on a challenge, hold an event or share some of your time and skills.

Hugh Grant Announces Cancer Survey Findings

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

British actor Hugh Grant attended a special event in London earlier this week to help launch a campaign to make terminally ill cancer patients aware of nursing services which allow them to die at home.

The actor was at the Marie Curie Cancer Care at the British Museum to discuss the findings of a survey he commissioned to identify awareness levels of the Marie Curie Nursing Service across the UK.

While four out of five of the UK population have heard of Marie Curie Cancer Care, the new survey shows that 79 per cent of the population doesn’t know if there is a Marie Curie Nursing Service available to them locally. Just under half (48 per cent) responded – ’don’t know’ when asked how they would go about getting a Marie Curie Nurse.

Annie Lennox To Perform Charity Show At Hampton Court

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Annie Lennox is to perform a special concert next week to raise much needed funds for two charities.

The 3rd annual Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala will take place on Saturday, June 6. This year’s gala will be held in a Spiegeltent, in the grounds of Hampton Court with 350 guests. The aim is to raise much needed funds for two charities – The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The money donated through the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation – founded by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev following the death of his wife Raisa from leukaemia in 1999 – gives hundreds of children suffering from cancer in Russia direct access to the best possible treatment. Marie Curie Nurses provide free nursing care to cancer patients and those with other terminal illnesses in their own homes and also run 10 hospices across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and two centres for palliative care research and the world-renowned Marie Curie Research Institute, which investigates the causes and treatments of cancer.

Ranulph Fiennes Summits Everest For Charity

Thu, 28 May 2009 11:30:00 +0000

British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes conquered Mount Everest in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care last week, a year after he was forced to abandon an attempt on the mountain.

The world-famous explorer reached the summit shortly before 1 am on Thursday May 21, despite having previously declared “no more mountains”.

He’s not stopping there – his mission now is to smash the £3 million target he set last year to support Marie Curie Nurses, giving more terminally ill patients the choice to die at home, surrounded by their families.

Frank Bruno's Night Out With Charitable Gentlemen

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Former world champion boxer Frank Bruno joined boxer John H Stracey and ITV World of Sport wrestler Tony ‘Banger’ Walsh at a charity black tie dinner in the UK last week.

47-year-old Bruno – who won the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1995 – was one of 200 guests to attend the dinner, held at the Nailcote Hall Hotel near Berkswell, to raise money for Gentlemen’s Night Out, a charity helps sick or disabled children or their parents. Established over 40 years ago, Gentleman’s Night Out distributes funds to those that do not have the ability to raise funds themselves. Beneficiaries they have helped include Marie Curie Cancer Care, the Special Olympics, the Variety Club, and many more.

Last week’s dinner raised £2,500 through ticket sales and an auction that included boxing memorabilia.

Danielle Lloyd Shops For A Good Cause

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Celebrities famed for their extreme shopping could be feeling a little more saintly this year thanks to a new online shopping service that could turn them into some of the Britain’s biggest charity givers.

Model and TV personality Danielle Lloyd has pledged to do her Christmas shopping this year using www.aGoodCause.co.uk – a unique service which allows shoppers to donate to charity for free while they shop online. Hundreds of different retailers, including Tesco, Nike and Miss Selfridge are already signed up and Danielle hopes that other celebs – and anyone who loves spending – will follow suit and complete their Christmas shopping online via aGoodCause.co.uk.

Cerys Matthews Supports Welsh School In London

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Welsh pop star Cerys Matthews – former singer for Brit Pop band Catatonia – will perform at a charity ball to raise funds for the only Welsh medium school outside Wales this weekend.

The London Welsh School – which is attended by Matthews’ two children – is having trouble finding funding due to the fact that it is not in Wales, in which case it would be funded by the National Assembly, and the UK government only funds schools that follow the national curriculum. The London Welsh School follows the Welsh curriculum.

The Dragon Ball – at which Matthews will perform – is being held at Porchester Hall, Bayswater, on Saturday October 4. Funds raised will also go to charities including Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Downs’ Syndrome Educational Trust.

Hugh Grant Supports New Charity Funding

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Actor Hugh Grant has openly welcomed the British Government’s decision last week to increase funding to Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses by £4.5 million (US$9 million).

An Ambassador for the charity, Grant has made a moving tribute about the work of Marie Curie nurses who provide care to terminally ill cancer patients – including his own mother.

“I am one of those people who came into contact with Marie Curie just because someone in my family died,” said the 47-year-old. “In my case it was my mother; she died of cancer in 2001. She wanted to die at home as most people do and not many people can for various reasons. Marie Curie came out to my brother’s house and enabled my mother to have a very dignified and quite cosy and loving last three weeks – not just because they are brilliant nurses, but they are just really great people to have around. I was very impressed. I operate in a world that’s full of scumbags and it’s very odd to come across nice people, people who actually do good.”

A Cup Of Tea With Girls Aloud

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Ever fancy a nice cup of tea with Girls Aloud? If so, pull up a chair, get out your best china, and relax as the singers front a new charity campaign to raise money for cancer support.

Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Blooming Great Tea Party is a new initiative designed to encourage people to hold their own tea parties and donate the money raised towards the cost of supporting cancer nurses. The organization – one of the largest charities in Britain – has been caring for the terminally ill for 60 years, and employs over 2,700 nurses and other healthcare professionals to care for patients who want to return to their own homes to die. They also run 10 hospices throughout Britain, and fund the Marie Curie Cancer Research Institute.

Girls Aloud became involved with the charity after Marie Curie nurses helped the grandfather of Nicola Roberts, one of the band members, in his final days.

Celebrities' Big Wardrobes Emptied For Charity

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:52:58 +0000

Shoppers will have the chance to rummage through the wardrobes of some of Britain’s biggest celebrities next month when a new online auction hits the web.

Stars such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Peaches Geldof, Paul Weller, Jodie Kidd, Jo Whiley, Jodie Marsh, and Russell Brand are cleaning out their wardrobes in the name of charity, giving visitors of www.bigwardrobe.com the chance to own some celebrity threads. The big-hearted celebrities have chosen a range of charities that the proceeds of the auction, which launches on May 1, will go to – including Refuge, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Marie Curie Cancer Care to name just a few.

Online shoppers can browse through dresses, jeans, and tops donated by Peaches Geldof, and the pink top worn by Jodie Marsh on her eviction from Celebrity Big Brother. The Kaiser Chiefs have donated a funky brown vintage suit and black bowler hat, as well as a signed Kaiser Chiefs shirt and a couple of signed football shirts, while Russell Brand has donated a signed pair of his famous skinny jeans.

Fiennes Charity Everest Trek in Jeopardy

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:20:16 +0000

Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ bid to summit Mount Everest in May as a fundraiser for a British cancer care charity has been put into jeopardy after Nepal acceded to Chinese demands to close the south side of the mountain.

The 64-year-old adventurer was due to leave for Nepal in April as part of the “Conquer Your Own Everest” campaign, and his summit attempt aimed to raise at least $4 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

But China is paranoid that climbers will use their summit attempts to protest over the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games, especially after recent massacres in Tibet.

Hugh Grant Blooms For Charity Appeal

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:06:43 +0000

British actor Hugh Grant, best known for his roles in a series of romantic comedies, has pledged his support for the annual major fundraising campaign of one of Britain’s most well known cancer charities.

The 47-year-old actor is the face and voice behind this year’s Daffodil Day Campaign, the flagship fundraising event for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Grant has recorded radio and television advertisements to highlight the campaign, which runs throughout March, as part of the organization’s 60th anniversary.

Marie Curie Cancer Care provides nurses to terminally ill patients who want to die at home, and Grant first came into contact with the organization when his mother, Fynvola, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight years ago. She was under the care of Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses when she passed away in 2001.