Garden centre aims to raise half a million pounds

An Ealing nurse has helped launched a new partnership to raise funds for the cancer charity Marie Curie.

‘Gardens for Good’ will run for two years and see gardening-inspired fundraising, volunteering initiatives and commercial activity to raise over £500,000 nationally for the charity which provides care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes.

The partnership will help Marie Curie Nurses provide at least an additional 25,000 hours of free, hands-on care.

Olive Hoare works in the Ealing and Hounslow rapid response team. She goes into a patient’s home at short notice in a crisis.

Olive said: “I remember taking a patient out into her garden in the early hours one morning, to look around and soak up the sights, sounds and smells. We talked about the plants and her happy memories of time spent there as a family. She passed away later that morning. I think that because gardens are so full of life and hold such sentimental value it is only natural that our patients get great joy from them in their last days of their life at home.”

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said:

''Everyone at Marie Curie is excited about working with The Garden Centre Group. Being cared for at home means our patients can continue to enjoy their gardens, which often hold many happy memories. Our hospice gardens, just as those our patients have tended to over the years, provide a relaxing environment for families to spend time together. We are looking forward to developing gardening-inspired fundraising and volunteering opportunities to engage all 5,000 staff across all 130 centres, as well as customers and suppliers. The funds raised from the partnership will ensure that Marie Curie Nurses can provide more care to terminally ill people and support to their families in communities across the country.''

3rd April 2014