This week, staff and patients at the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford were treated to a socially distanced afternoon tea by Natalie Miller who wanted to say thank you to the nurses who looked after her uncle before he died in the hospice the week prior. Natalie’s Grandmother Ada, and Auntie Pauline were also both cared for by the Marie Curie hospice during the last stages of their lives.
Natalie Miller, who arranged the tea party for the hospice staff and patients said: “It’s a sad fact but the way we are wired is that we don’t try to think about the end of our lives and so only really acknowledge a place like the hospice when we need it. When I realised that there are no visitors allowed for what are very obvious reasons, it broke my heart to think how even more isolated the patients must feel during the Covid-19 outbreak and I just wanted to give them something to look forward to. I also wanted to help create some nice memories for the staff – it truly does take a very special and unique type of person to do what they do so well.”
This month marks the charity famous Blooming Great Tea Party, which is going virtual this year and the charity needs tea party hosts more than ever before to make up for the devastating effect the coronavirus crisis has had on the charity’s income.
The end of life charity is calling on you to throw a Blooming Virtual Tea Party from home this summer. While staying indoors is the new normal, throwing a virtual tea party is a fun way to stay connected to the ones you love during this time and a great way to support nurses working on the frontline of the crisis.
In people’s homes and in its hospices, Marie Curie is caring for people with terminal illnesses, as well as people with Covid-19, and is protecting the NHS by keeping patients away from hospital. However, as the charity has stepped up its support for the nation, its fundraising income has been devastated by the impact of lockdown measures – it had to cancel its Great Daffodil Appeal in March and closed all its charity shops shortly after.
That is why the charity is encouraging everyone to download Zoom, Skype or Houseparty and connect with friends and family while raising some money at the same time.
Mark Winton, Head of Community Fundraising said “Our Blooming Great Tea Party looks a little different this year but I think everyone needs an excuse to meet up with their friends and family – online of course – and check in on the people they love. If you can do that while raising some money for Marie Curie, then your generous donations will enable us to help even more people at the end of their lives get the care they need in this time of uncertainty.
“We rely on the support of the amazing public to ensure our nurses can keep caring for people. And while the coronavirus crisis has badly impacted our fundraising events, we hope by going virtual we’ll be able to raise the vital funds we need to keep supporting people in our communities across Yorkshire”.
To register as a Blooming Virtual Tea Party host visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty or call 0800 716 146 for you fundraising pack full of hints, tips, recipes and fundraising ideas.
