End of life charity Marie Curie is calling on residents of Somerset to support its flagship fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal – which is reaching its 35th anniversary next month – and has, for the first time, had to cancel all of their iconic public collections for the campaign.

After an extremely difficult 12 months, the charity is facing a potential loss of over £3 million due to the cancelled public collections but has a variety of creative ways that people in Somerset can support the campaign this year including donning their trainers and 'stepping up for Marie Curie' by walking 10,000 steps every day throughout March.

All donations from the Great Daffodil Appeal will ensure that Marie Curie Nurses can continue working on the frontline, providing end of life care in people's homes throughout Somerset and the South West.

Riona Houghton, Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Somerset, said:

"The Great Daffodil Appeal is vitally important to us. Having been held every March for over three decades, this is the first time we've had to cancel all of our public collections. This is a huge blow as each volunteer would usually raise an average £80 from a collection shift: enough to pay for the equivalent of four hours of nursing care.

"In these unprecedented times we need peoples' support now more than ever. From simply making a donation and wearing a daffodil pin to hosting a virtual 'Wear Yellow Day' - we've created a wide range of fundraising ideas in the hope that we have something to suit everyone."

Alison Steadman, actor and Marie Curie Ambassador, said: "I have seen first-hand the incredible difference Marie Curie makes and just how important their work is in caring for people with a terminal illness and their families. The loving care they gave my mum when she was dying is something that I'll never forget and will always remember. I don't know how we would have managed as a family without the Marie Curie Nurses and doctors and dread to think about what it would mean if they weren't there for all the families that need them.

"The work Marie Curie do is needed now more than ever as the Covid pandemic has had a big impact on their ability to fundraise. That is why I'm encouraging people across the whole of the UK to show their support in any way they can in March for this year's Great Daffodil Appeal. Every donation means that when the time comes, Marie Curie can be there for people and their loved ones when they need it most."

For more information click HERE : the charity's site