The nurses and healthcare professionals who provide care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families are recognised through the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. This appeal runs through the whole of March each year to raise funds to help with the support they provide, as well as raising awareness about the important service that Marie Curie does.

Marie Curie started out as a cancer hospital and remains commonly associated with cancer care but over the years, it evolved into a charity that supports all end of life care. In 2022-2023, 44,200 people were cared for by Marie Curie nurses and healthcare professionals.

As of the last annual report, 1,812 nurses and healthcare assistants work for Marie Curie and provide the help and support needed whilst suffering a terminal illness, providing care with the compassion and respect that everyone deserves. The work that Marie Curie does makes a massive difference to those that receive it but with one in four people in the UK who are dying still not getting the care and support they need, they want to continue to grow and support even more families.

There is an increasing need for end of life care, due to having an aging population. According to statistics, by 2048, the need for end-of-life care will increase by up to 25% and Marie Curie want to tackle this head on with a five-year plan for everyone living with any illness they’re likely to die from to get the care they deserve. They hope to increase the number of episodes of care they deliver each year, and they hope to achieve a system of change to help those at end of life and conduct research to improve clinical practices.

Marie Curie also helps loved ones left behind, providing support to family members on how to cope with grief.

The Daffodil appeal invites everyone to wear a daffodil pin to show their support. You can also help the cause by donating at Donate to support Marie Curie | Marie Curie. A donation of just £23.00 could pay for one hour of vital nursing care to help someone with a terminal illness. The money you donate helps to provide expert care in people’s homes and hospices to help make everyone as comfortable as possible in the most difficult of times.

We often work with people who require the support of Marie Curie and have seen first hand the significance of what they do; for example, we work with many families who have been affected by delayed diagnosis of cancer, resulting in it no longer being able to be cured. This is immensely difficult for the entire family but support from Marie Curie and other such organisations can provide dignity and peace of mind.

If you or a loved one need end of life support, please contact the support line on 0800 090 2309 or visit their website Marie Curie Support Line.