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Morris Minor Owners Club |
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Our Own Branch MARIE CURIE Challenge
After a very informative and in-depth talk given by Cheryl Barrett about Marie Curie and all the different ways this organisation works to help and support cancer patients and their families in their time of need at our February meeting, I am sure that we all went home feeling far more motivated and inspired towards our fundraising efforts for The Million Mile Challenge in 2008. I am sure by now all MMOC club members will know that this year is the 60th Anniversary of the Morris Minor and that it coincides with Marie Curie’s 60th Anniversary also. The MMOC theme is James Bond ‘Diamonds are Forever’ All Branches have been asked to support this charity and try to raise as much money as we can so that they can carry on the excellent service and support that they provide. This fantastic organisation relies solely on the generosity of each and every one of us out there. I would just like to give you a little background information for any one reading this who (like me and I am sure some of you) didn’t know how the Marie Curie organisation started and continues… In 1948 a group of doctors got together to try and find a cure or to at least research this disease and ways to help sufferers and their loved ones through it. A lady called Alice Macpherson left a very special legacy to the ‘Marie Curie’ doctors in 1948 – it was her treasured diamond engagement ring. This was the first donation that was ever received and later that year it sold for (in those days) an amazing £75.00. This was the brilliant start that allowed the beginning of what we know today as the Marie Curie Cancer Care. This nationwide charity now provides home nursing care for half of all terminally ill cancer patients. It has ten hospices – the nearest to us being Newcastle or Bradford. Most of the funding goes towards education and nurses. On Christmas Eve alone this year there were 127 nurses working and almost the same number on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year. There is a ‘Choice Campaign’ currently running – this is the choice to die at home, unfortunately there are only enough resources for 1 in 4 people to have this option although 3 out of 4 people would choose to die in their own familiar surroundings. All this sounds very depressing and sad but Cheryl told us some wonderful stories of the happiness and reassurance that having the support of Marie Cure Cancer Care can have on all those concerned. We have 14 support groups in this area but more are needed as our area is quite large it covers Loftus – the Humber Estuary – Skirts down York and back to Market Weighton. Their target in the next year is £370,000 to keep every thing ticking over. Our local Marie Curie ladies that we will be seeing quite a lot of this year are: Fiona, Wendy, Sally and Karen. They will be there to help us in any way they can. I hope that this has given you a little flavour of what this charity does within our own community. Our first Branch fundraising Daffodil Day event is on the 13th April. We have included the route, starting point and timing on the web site but it will also be available at the next meeting in March and on the day. Every one is welcome, we will be dressing up – even if it is only with a silly Daffodil top hat provided by Marie Curie and rattling a few tins, there is a glorious 3 mile walk among fields of Daffodils before heading off for a pub lunch at The Lion Inn in Blakey – if you would like to eat in the restaurant it is £13.95 Sunday Lunch at 3pm, we have booked 30 places but these are filling up fast so we need to know ASAP but if these are all taken there is an excellent choice of bar meals also available so not to worry. The phone number for The Lion Inn is 01751 417 320 if you would like any more information. I would like on behalf of the branch at this point to thank Pam and Tim for their time and hard work that has pulled this event together for us………. We have already got various things going on now, several items being raffled for us including a ‘Diamonds are Forever’ theme running through it. Our Rally at the end of July will also have fund raising events going on. Plus much, much more – please keep checking the web site for further details of plans that are unfolding. This is our on going commitment for the year, so armed with all this information if any member gets a ‘spark of brilliance’ or any ideas at all please contact any of the committee or speak up at a meeting – REMEMBER - Your Branch Needs YOU………….
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Bridlington & Wolds
