Marie Curie work in the spotlight

THE INSPIRATIONAL, wide ranging work of the Marie Curie charity was highlighted at a meeting in Loughborough.

Sophie Wallace, community fund raiser for Leicestershire and Rutland, explained the difference the charity can make to the lives of local people when she spoke at the weekly gathering of the Loughborough Cancer Self Help group at John Storer House.

She began by emphasising that the charity had changed its name from Marie Curie Cancer Care because it helped people suffering from all forms of terminal illness, including cancer.

The best-known aspect of the service, which is given without charge, is the nursing care.

She said that there are currently around 13 nurses who provide through the night care in the homes of people who have been told that their conditions are terminal.

This is the time of day when those suffering and their carers feel most isolated, she added.

GPs refer those in need of this very particular and needed form of care directly to Marie Curie who draw up individual care plans because each and every case is unique.

The charity blends in with others in particular geographical areas to try to fill important gaps in care.

Therefore, although there are Marie Curie hospices in other parts of the country they do not have one in Leicestershire as this area is served by LOROS.

The charity, which is fully self-funded, also provides an information and support telephone line and carries out research. Also it is running a trial ‘helper’ service in Nottingham in which volunteers supply different levels of support including companionship and practical aid.

Sophie said her role including giving support to the charity’s highly valued volunteers whose fund-raising efforts enabling the charity to continue its work.

Paula Reed, of the Cancer Self Help group, thanked Sophie for her talk.

She was one of a range of speakers invited to the group during the year to provide information to members of the group who include people living with cancer and others whose lives have been touched by the disease.