Well known faces line up to support Marie Curie Cancer Care's Great Daffodil Appeal

Stephen Fry, Tony Blackburn, Lynda Bellingham, Jon Culshaw, Alison Steadman, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes are among the stars who feature in a short video calling on people of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to volunteer to raise funds to provide nursing care for terminally ill people in their own homes.

The video, which can be viewed online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil/ has been made by Marie Curie Cancer Care to help recruit a total of 20,000 volunteer collectors across the UK for its 2010 Great Daffodil Appeal.

Actor Stephen Mangan, who also features in the video, has personal reasons for supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal. Both his parents died from cancer and were cared for at home by Marie Curie Nurses.

Stephen, best known for his performances in Green Wing and Channel Four’s Free Agents, said: “Most terminally-ill people want to be cared for at home, surrounded by their loved ones. Marie Curie Nurses working across the UK make this possible because they provide care, totally free to patients in their own homes.

“I’m proud to be supporting the appeal in any way I can and hope the video encourages everyone to give an hour of their time to help, because it really could help someone in their final hours.”

Each March the charity encourages everyone in the UK to give a donation in return for a daffodil to wear in support of Marie Curie Nurses. All money raised will help the charity provide free nursing care for people with cancer and other terminal illnesses in their own homes and the charity’s hospices.

The charity is asking for people to become volunteer collectors throughout the UK and to give an hour of their time during the Great Daffodil Appeal this February and March and help someone in their final hours.

If you have more time available, there are other ways to get involved.

For example, the charity needs help organising the collections, or you could volunteer at your local fundraising office or distribute daffodil boxes to local supporters.

To volunteer for the Great Daffodil Appeal and help Marie Curie Cancer Care provide care for terminally ill people and support for their loved ones, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil/ or call the Daffodil Hotline on 0845 601 3107.

To get help from the Marie Curie Nursing Service, talk to your GP, district nurse or discharge nurse.

For more information about Marie Curie C a n c e r C a r e , p l e a s e v i s i t our website at: www.mariecurie.org.uk/