Marie Curie is welcoming back the return of the annual Great Daffodil Appeal. Marie Curie provides vital end of life care to thousands of people across Northern Ireland, and with the help of SPAR NI, the Great Daffodil Appeal is a chance to give back and show appreciation to the charity.

For every bunch of daffodils purchased in SPAR stores from 19th February until 31st March, 10p will be donated to Marie Curie.

A year of fundraising in 2023, resulted in a donation total of over £142,000, thanks to store staff and shoppers’ support. SPAR NI has partnered with Marie Curie for the past seven years and through a number of fundraising events and annual initiatives has raised a total of over £840,000 for the charity.

Daffodils in March are a timely reminder of what Marie Curie’s iconic floral symbol means to many who not only rely on the care provided by the charity, but to those who volunteer and work for Marie Curie too.

Ryan Hand, television and radio presenter, is a new Marie Curie ambassador. He has been a dedicated supporter of the charity since his mother Pauline died from cancer in 2008. After fundraising £16,000 and raising awareness of the charity, he will be running his sixth marathon, the London Marathon, for Marie Curie later this year.

Ryan commented, “Marie Curie is one of those vital health services you don’t necessarily know a lot about until one of your relatives or a close friend is facing terminal illness.  Myself and my wider family really needed them when my mother, aunt and cousin all died from cancer and are eternally grateful for their care.”

Laura Thompson, Corporate Marketing Manager at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland commented, “The Great Daffodil Appeal makes it even easier for our shoppers to show their support when in store. It enables us to show our appreciation and raise awareness of the charity, the nurses and the amazing work they do for people across the country when they need them most.

“We are committed towards continuing our support for Marie Curie and the unrivalled care and compassion they provide. Whatever the illness, Marie Curie are with patients, and their family and friends, to the end.”

During the Great Daffodil Appeal, on Sunday 3rd March, Marie Curie is holding the fourth annual Day of Reflection, encouraging people to come together to remember loved ones who died during the pandemic and to arrange a reflective activity or event, or to take part in a minutes’ silence to show support to the people who are grieving.

Grandmother Roberta McKittrick from Dundonald died at Marie Curie’s Hospice last May at the age of 75. Before she died, she spoke about the care she received and said, “The care at Marie Curie is just indescribable. Money couldn’t pay for what the staff do for you here. If I had all the money in the world I would give it to Marie Curie, for all the work they do. It’s not just nursing, but the way they do it, it’s done with love.”

Mrs. McKittrick’s family spoke of the care she received, “Our mother was so happy to be at Marie Curie hospice and as a family we were so relieved that she could spend her last days surrounded with expert medical and nursing care. We know that Marie Curie also provides hospice care at home for thousands of people throughout Northern Ireland and as a family, we support SPAR NI’s fundraising appeal to support this vital service.”

Marie Curie provided vital end of life care to more than 5,000 people across Northern Ireland last year, in patients’ homes and at its Belfast hospice. Daffodils are available at over 300 SPAR NI stores from 19th February – 31st March.

For more information on the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit www.spar-ni.co.uk/marie-curie/ and www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

To find out how you can get involved in Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection, visit dayofreflection.org.uk/

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