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Group aims to increase cancer care
A NEW support group hopes to provide funding for more nurses to care for cancer patients.
Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses provide care for people who have cancer and other severe and life-limiting illnesses.
At the moment there are 16 in Bedfordshire but until now there has been no dedicated support group in Chronicle Country.
The new group, which will cover Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton aims to organise regular charity events to help bring in money for more nurses.
Jane Leonard – a Marie Curie nurse from Potton who has founded the group with Ian Simpson and three other volunteers – is pleased to be starting a new organisation in the area.
She said: “Marie Curie nurses can provide night-time care for patients with cancer and other life-limiting conditions so that their relatives and carers can sleep peacefully, knowing that the person is being taken care of.
“When the district nurse confirms that a Marie Curie nurse is needed then the NHS will provide half of the funding.
“But the other half comes from the charity itself and so fundraising is always required to provide the service.”
Research undertaken by Marie Curie has shown that 65 per cent of people would want to be cared for at home if they were terminally ill.
The night shifts provided by the nurses aim to help the partners and carers of patients who may be in need of respite care.
The new group will be holding a launch event at The Old Coach House pub in Potton on Wednesday, March 7 and everyone is welcome to attend.
Volunteers will be talking about future events and recruiting new members. Members of the group will also be collecting money in buckets at ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Homebase in Biggleswade in the coming months.
On the day of the launch event the doors at The Old Coach House will open at 10am for a 10.30am start.
For more information about Marie Curie see www.mariecurie.org.uk
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Weather for Biggleswade
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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