Celebrities Call for 20,000 Volunteers for Marie Curie

Stephen Mangan supports the appeal

An array of well known faces have come together to support Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal this year.

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 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 20,000 volunteer collectors for its 2010 Great Daffodil Appeal.

In addition, an associated advertising campaign launched this week and features two radio adverts – one featuring Stephen Fry and another Jane Horrocks. They will be broadcast throughout January on Heart, Smooth Radio, Magic, Classic FM and LBC.

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 Marie Curie Cancer Care provide free nursing care for people with cancer and other terminal illnesses in their own homes and the charity’s hospices.

Marie Curie Cancer Care urgently needs to recruit 20,000 volunteer collectors to help its Great Daffodil Appeal in 2010. The charity is asking for volunteer collectors to give an hour of their time during the Great Daffodil Appeal this February and March to 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 distributing 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 the website at 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 Cancer Care, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk

Kew's Tropical Extravaganza
 

From Saturday 6 February
to Sunday 7 March

If you love beautiful gardens visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s ‘Tropical Extravaganza’ and be transported from the frosts of February to a sizzling orchid oasis dripping with colour. Set in the balmy tropical zone of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, Tropical Extravaganza is a spectacle of thousands of vibrant orchids and bromeliads.

Kew Gardens is home to one of the world's oldest and most comprehensive collection of living orchids – the largest family of flowering plants on the planet – and this festival showcases their broad diversity. It kicks off Kew’s Year of Biodiversity, a year long programme of events celebrating the importance of plants in the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity.

Wander through the Princess of Wales Conservatory past bright bursts of colour erupting out of the tropical foliage. Tunnels dripping with orchids and bromeliads will lead visitors to the glasshouse’s central pond where an island made up of orchids and tropical plants with diverse colours and shapes will celebrate plant biodiversity.

This dramatic display will include spiky Miltassias, spiralling Dendrobiums and cockleshell orchids (Prosthechea cochleata) with their octopus shaped flowers. Look out for Kew’s ‘roving’ volunteer guides in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, who will be on hand to chat to visitors about the displays and answer any questions you may have.

The festival is also an opportunity to learn about the diverse characteristics of orchids, their importance to people and vulnerability in the wild. The 25,000 described species of orchid range from the subtle and dainty to the flamboyantly glamorous, many of which are endangered and threatened in the wild. Orchids represent approximately 10% of the world’s flowering plants most of which thrive in the tropics. The Waterlily House will also be transformed with displays highlighting Kew’s work around the world to protect plants, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as Madagascar.

Step behind the scenes

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, (11 February to 4 March 2010), tour Kew's orchid nurseries in the Tropical Nursery, which are usually closed to the public. You'll find out about the techniques Kew's orchid experts use to care for the collection of living orchids. The tours are also an opportunity to ask about caring for tropical plants at home.  While weekend visitors will be able to tour the entire Tropical Nursery every Saturday (13 February to 6 March 2010).

At 6,500 square metres the Tropical Nursery is even larger than the Temperate House and home to thousands of plants housed in 21 climatic zones. In here, thousands of plants are raised for research and display out in the glass houses.

Free Tropical Fruits Hands-on Sessions

Throughout the festival RBG Kew’s volunteer guides will delight you with a display of tropical food – some familiar, some weird and wonderful (Wednesdays and Sundays, 2 to 4pm, Secluded Garden Glasshouse). Find out where they come from, how they grow and what they smell and taste like.

Learn how to Grow Orchids at Home

Pick up a copy of ‘Growing Windowsill Orchids' (special offer price £3.50) by orchid expert, Philip Seaton from Kew’s Victoria Plaza shop, which is packed with tips on how to succeed with orchids in your home, including what to look for when buying orchids, caring for your orchid and how to get it to flower again year after year.

Orchids that feature range from the popular Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) which can easily be picked up on the high street, to the butterfly orchid, Oncidium (commonly known as the ‘dancing ladies’) and the perennially popular slipper orchids.

For more information click on www.kew.org

Britt Ekland Launches Bupa Great South Run
 

Britt Ekland wearing the Alzheimer's Society Pin
 

Iconic movie actress Britt Ekland is calling for people in Portsmouth to sign up to raise money for people with dementia in this year’s Bupa Great South Run. Britt, renowned for roles in cult classics such as Get Carter and The Wicker Man, and as Bond girl Miss Goodnight, was at the launch with her pooch Tequila to encourage others to join her in raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society, Bupa’s nominated charity for the second year running.  In 2009, thanks to Bupa, £1 million was raised to help fight dementia - this year they are looking to smash that target.

Alzheimer’s Society Patron, Britt says, "I was thrilled to hear Bupa had picked Alzheimer’s Society to be the nominated charity for the Bupa Great Run Series again this year. My mother had dementia and it is heartbreaking watching someone you love gradually lose their memories and skills. The money raised for Alzheimer’s Society will improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. I urge everyone in the South to sign up and start raising money today."

Britt Ekland with Alzheimer's Society supporter Joe

Football legend and Alzheimer’s Society Portsmouth branch supporter, Lawrie McMenemy, will also be at the launch lending his support and raising money for Alzheimer’s Society.

There are over 2,200 people with dementia in Portsmouth alone. Though anyone can run for Alzheimer’s Society many people are inspired to run because of a friend or loved one.  Simon Wells, who works on a local dementia ward, ran for Alzheimer’s Society in last year’s Bupa Great South Run and found the experience so rewarding he is signing up again in 2010.

Simon says, "As the Deputy Ward Manager of a dementia unit, I'm taking part in the BUPA Great South Run to represent the dedicated and caring staff around the country who look after those with dementia every day.

"The feeling of finishing last year's race and raising valuable funds for Alzheimer's Society made me feel so proud that I am keen to do it again. Raising just £20 could support a researcher for a day with the equipment and chemicals needed to develop better treatments in the fight against dementia. That's the reason I'll be persuading my friends, colleagues and family to dig deep and help me to help Alzheimer's Society reach its ambitious target for 2010."

Dr Graham Stokes, Bupa’s director of dementia care explains why Alzheimer’s Society was a natural choice to be the nominated charity.

"Alzheimer’s Society and Bupa are working together across a range of projects to support people with dementia and their carers to find a cure for the future, whilst improving their quality of life and care. Both organisations share a commitment to fighting dementia and a belief in the health benefits of exercise. Signing up to support Alzheimer’s Society in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, helping reduce your risk of dementia whilst raising money for a very worthwhile cause."
 

For more information call 0845 306 0898 or click on www.alzheimers.org.uk