Marie Curie nurse urges people to support charity’s fundraiser

A LOCAL Marie Curie nurse is calling on local people to get out and walk to raise much-needed funds to provide end-of-life care for people with terminal illness.

Bernie Marlow from Fintona is encouraging the charity’s supporters to organise a ‘Twilight Walk’, anytime and anywhere, in September, as part of Marie Curie’s annual popular fundraising campaign.

The registered nurse has been working for Marie Curie over the last three years – currently in the charity’s Rapid Response nursing service within the Western Health Trust board in the Omagh area. She cares for people in their own homes in the evenings and weekends, and often works overnight to make sure the patient is kept as comfortable as possible, providing care and support for them and their loved ones.

Bernie says that working for Marie Curie is the ‘most rewarding job’ she has had in her 40 years of nursing.

She added, “It’s a privilege to be able to give care and support of people at end-of-life in their own homes, and we really appreciate the kind donations to Marie Curie, which make this possible.

“But Marie Curie know that many people in Northern Ireland do not get the palliative and end-of-life care they need. We want to help more people, but are facing a major challenge now, and in the future, as, by 2040, there will be a third more of people than today in Northern Ireland requiring end-of-life care.

“The Twilight Walk has been our major fundraising event, and it means so much more to those who attend that just raising money.

“It’s all about remembering and celebrating family members and friends who have died.

“However, we know that not everyone can travel to Belfast, so we are encouraging people to organise their own walks and light up the night in memory of their relatives and friends.”

Bernie added that every pound raised for Marie Curie helps the charity in its work as the largest palliative nursing care provider, and biggest funder of research into palliative care in the UK.

“All fundraising from the walks is greatly needed: Every £26 raised could fund an hour of bereavement support by telephone or web chat; £60 raised could cover a nurse’s uniform; £207 for nine hours’ could overnight nursing care; and £1,400 could cover a new syringe drive for pain management.”

Ciara Gallagher, who leads on fundraising for Marie Curie in Northern Ireland, added: “Every step taken and every pound raised really does count. We hope to raise over £100,000 this year from our Twilight Walks.

“Hosting a Twilight Walk is a great way of supporting people experiencing bereavement, while helping the work of Marie Curie.

“We are here to support your fundraising, and will provide memory lanterns to light up at the end, in what is always a poignant moment for those taking part,” she continued.

To register your own Twilight Walk, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/twilightwalk or email walkni@mariecurie.org.uk. Participants can also register to take part in the Belfast event on Friday, September 29.