Great Daffodil Appeal Volunteers needed by Marie Curie

The Marie Curie charity is looking for volunteers in the city to support its annual Great Daffodil Appeal.

Marie Curie provides care and support to people living with a terminal illness and those close to them.

The Great Daffodil Appeal will take place in March, when Marie Curie will ask the general public to dig deep to help support its work.

The end of life charity is urgently calling for volunteers in Derry to give just two hours of their time to hand out the charity’s iconic daffodil pins in return for donations.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "All across the country supporters will be donning the infamous giant yellow top hats in supermarkets and on high streets for the Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie’s flagship fundraiser, which has now been running for 37 years.

"Marie Curie is dependent on public donations and last year the money raised helped the charity provide direct care to more than 5,500 people across county Derry, and Northern Ireland through overnight nursing care in people’s own homes and at its Belfast hospice. 

"Donations also support its Information and Support line, which provides a listening ear to anyone dealing with any aspect of death, dying and bereavement."

Sheena Havlin, Community Fundraiser for the area, stressed that local people were currently being cared for by Marie Curie in their homes through its Rapid Response Service and overnight service.

She added: “Our public collections returned last year following a two-year suspension during the pandemic so it’s more important than ever that people support the charity’s work.

“The Great Daffodil Appeal is my favourite time of the year and is a brilliant and fun way to support Marie Curie. Volunteers are so important to us and we’re calling on the people from the Derry area to give a couple of hours of their time once again, to don a big yellow hat and help us raise as much money as we can.

“Collecting couldn’t be simpler and our amazing team will support you from the moment you sign-up to volunteer, making sure you have everything you need to encourage the public to donate and wear one of our iconic daffodil pins. All the money raised will help Marie Curie continue to provide vital end of life care for terminally ill people and their families during their final days, weeks and months.”

During the Great Daffodil Appeal on March 23, the annual National Day of Reflection will take place. This is a unique day to remember loved ones who’ve died and to support people who are grieving. Marie Curie will be leading a minute’s silence at noon on the day.

 To sign-up to volunteer to collect for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, please click HERE.