Spring in the air as writer launches campaign

THE LEEDS-BORN writer and director Kay Mellor was back in Yorkshire yesterday to launch Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal.

She toured the day therapy unit and inpatient department at Bradford Hospice, meeting nurses and patients receiving support from the charity.

The campaign, the biggest in Marie Curie’s calendar, asks supporters to wear a daffodil pin during March.

More than eight million are distributed each year and donations help provide care for people living with a terminal illness and support for their families.

More than £6.5m was raised last year and £86m since the campaign began in 1986.

Ms Mellor, whose work includes the recent ITV drama Girlfriends and the hit series

Band of Gold and Fat Friends, said: “Terminal illness touches every one of us in some way or another during our lives.

“The work of the nurses is simply amazing and provides comfort to individuals and families when they need it the most. I hope we can raise vital funds to allow Marie Curie to care for even more people.”

Amanda Warrent, the charity’s community fundraiser, added: “Acting as ambassador, we’re excited that Kay will help raise the profile of the campaign locally, encouraging more people to sign up to support the appeal or make a donation and wear a daffodil.”

Marie Curie finances 2,000 nurses who work in homes and in the charity’s nine hospices across the country, providing 1.2m hours of nursing care every year.

Terminal illness touches every one of us in some way or another. Kay Mellor, who is supporting Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal.