Look To The Stars News: Marie Curie Cancer Care

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.

This once-in-a-lifetime auction ends on Friday, August 21, and can be accessed here.

Hugh Grant Supports Newspaper Charity Campaign

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

“Whatever way you can, please support Bolton’s Marie Curie nurses, they do such an amazing job.”

According to The Bolton News, there are 21 Marie Curie nurses in the region, who provided more than 12,000 hours of care last year, free of charge.

Donations to the campaign can be made at www.mariecurie.org.uk/bolton.

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.

Announcing the findings, Hugh Grant said: “I know from my own experience how important access to the Marie Curie Nursing Service is to patients at the end of their lives and to their families. Ninety-six percent of the country has access to the Marie Curie Nursing Service. People don’t need to wait to be offered a Marie Curie Nurse – you can ask your GP, your district nurse or go to the Marie Curie Cancer Care website for more information.”

Marie Curie Cancer nurses cared for Hugh Grant’s mother in her final days.

“They were so fantastic to my mum who, eight years ago almost to the day, was in her last 24 hours and if you can ever have a happy last 24 hours she pretty much had one, and entirely thanks to Marie Curie.

“It just seems such a shame. There’s this incredible opportunity to give people who are dying this option, this dignity, this loving environment to die in. It seems very sad that so many people don’t realize that it’s there on their doorstep and it’s free.

“The statistics show that the majority of people who are ill will want to die at home and a lot of those people don’t do that because they think they are going to be a burden on their family or they think they won’t get the right palliative care at home or they won’t be able to afford it.”

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.

More information about the event will be available on the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation website

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.

He said: "I have summited Everest for Marie Curie Cancer Care which has long been a personal goal.

“Thanks to my sponsor Brewin Dolphin for making this possible, I urge everyone who followed my attempt last year to give generously to Marie Curie so that we can at last achieve our £3 million target to support its pioneering work in end-of-life care.”

Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive of Marie Curie Cancer Care said: “Everyone at Marie Curie is delighted that Sir Ranulph has conquered Everest, we know it meant so much to him – we are so grateful to Ran for all his support for the charity and for his determination to personally take the Marie Curie flag to the summit.”

At 65, Sir Ranulph is the oldest Briton to summit Everest. He is also the first explorer in history to reach the world’s highest peak and the most northerly and most southerly points on the planet – the latter two unsupported.

After turning back last year, he said: “I won’t be returning to Everest, it’s a seven week trip – last time I had a heart attack, this time bad timing and weather scuppered my chances. I think any third attempt would be bad luck.”

To help Sir Ranulph smash his £3million target you can make a donation at http://www.justgiving.com/everestranulph

Frank Bruno's Night Out With Charitable Gentlemen

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

More information about Gentleman’s Night Out can be found here.

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.

She said: “I am really excited to be working with aGoodCause.co.uk. I always spend more than I should on Christmas presents, and by using the website I can continue to do so knowing that some of the money is going to charity.”

After downloading a piece of free software from the website, whenever you shop with one of the 570 online retailers that have joined the initiative, they will donate a percentage of what you spend to your chosen charity – without you spending a penny extra.

Among the 200+ charities already signed up to receive donations via aGoodCause.co.uk are Help the Aged, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Christian Aid and Against Breast Cancer.

Cerys Matthews Supports Welsh School In London

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

Information on tickets can be found at LondonWelsh.org.

Hugh Grant Supports New Charity Funding

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this week, provides free end-of-life care for around 27,000 cancer patients who want to end their days at home every year.

A Cup Of Tea With Girls Aloud

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

“Every pound raised will help Marie Curie nurses look after someone with a terminal illness,” said the star.

Anybody wishing to know more about the campaign can visit the Blooming Great Tea Party website.

Celebrities' Big Wardrobes Emptied For Charity

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

The celebrity auction follows the sale of a shirt donated by Kate Moss over at eBay. The T-Shirt, which was signed by the supermodel, raised almost $400 for the Princess Alice Hospice, a facility for cancer patients in Esher, England.

The hospice needs $13 million a year to provide care for people across south-west London and Surrey, of which three-quarters is raised through donations and fundraising. Over $1,600 was raised overall from items sold in the auction, which included a ring from children’s novelist Dame Jacqueline Wilson and a t-shirt signed by Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Suzanne Shaw, and fellow Dancing on Ice finalists.

Fiennes Charity Everest Trek in Jeopardy

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

Fiennes has enlisted the help of experienced mountain guide Kenton Cool to help him in the challenge, and hopes they can successfully talk their way round the ban.

“With the mountain completely shut until 10 May our chances of a summit attempt are virtually zero,” said Cool. “Hopefully there is still room for negotiation with the authorities. We would only need a few days to stock camps and prepare, so we could still be in with a chance.”

Sir Ranulph is certainly no stranger to adventure. He was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles by land, and also to cross Antarctica by foot. In March 2007 he climbed the daunting North Face of the Eiger and raised over $3 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

If the Everest attempt does go ahead, the official website will be launched on March 27 at Conquer Your Own Everest.

Hugh Grant Blooms For Charity Appeal

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

“Mum was very determined – as apparently most people are in her situation – to die at home and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without them,” said Grant in an interview in the Daily Telegraph. “She was in quite a lot of pain and very weak and needed 24-hour care. They were just incredibly discreet and good humored, and above all, astonishingly kind.”

The Marie Curie Cancer Care Daffodil Day campaign is due to launch on March 2, and the advertising will focus on the things people want to do when they have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The organization hopes to encourage as many people as possible to wear Daffodil badges during March, or to purchase other Daffodil Day merchandise such as umbrellas, dog tags, “wellies” (boots), and of course flowers. Merchandise will be available from street sellers all over Britain, as well as online.

Look To The Stars News: Marie Curie Cancer Care

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