THE GIRLS AT MARIE CURIE

As soon as the daffodils start appearing (rather late this year), I'm reminded of the superb work carried out by the staff who run the Marie Curie Cancer shops. Here we have Chris and Lesley from the Billericay shop. My picture was take a few years ago and Lesley is helping elsewhere, but I am still fond of this cheerful photo.

The background to this charity is fascinating. Its staff provide nursing care, across the land, free of charge, to terminally ill people, giving them the chance to choose to be cared for – and die – at home. Marie Curie charity has a registered office at the Albert Embankment in London. It also has ten hospices for people who need temporary respite care or final care; these are more home-like than standard hospital environments. Named after the Polish-French scientist Marie Curie, the charity also undertakes research into the causes of cancer and improved cancer treatments at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Oxted, Surrey.

Every year the charity provides care to around 25,000 cancer patients and their families – entirely free of charge. Marie Curie Nurses now care for around 50 percent of all cancer patients who live at home.

At the ten Marie Curie Hospices, quality of life for patients is actively promoted as is providing much needed support for their carers. Marie Curie provides the largest number of hospice beds outwith the National Health Service (NHS).