Marie Curie fundraising tea parties go virtual
Tea party hosts are being sought by Marie Curie in the north of Scotland to help make up for loss of income during the coronavirus crisis.
The end-of-life charity is asking supporters to throw a Blooming Virtual Tea Party from home during the summer, emphasising that it will support Marie Curie nurses as well as being a fun way to stay connected to loved ones.
The charity is caring for people with terminal illnesses, as well as those with Covid-19, and is protecting the NHS by keeping patients away from hospital.
However, it says its fundraising income has been "devastated" by the impact of lockdown measures – it had to cancel its Great Daffodil Appeal in March and closed all its charity shops shortly after.
Marie Curie needs to raise a quarter of a million pounds to fund its Scottish services.
And so the charity and its celebrity ambassador, Mel Giedroyc, are encouraging members of the public to connect virtually with friends and family while raising money at the same time.
Mel said: “You can bake it, fake it, brew it or stew it – whatever your cup of tea, Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party is going virtual this year and it’s a simple way to keep in touch with your chums, while raising money for a wonderful cause which we all need right now.
“Marie Curie needs to raise a massive £2.5 million each week to care for the tens of thousands of people who need its nursing and hospice care. This year, the amazing nurses and frontline staff need you more than ever, as the fundraising events they rely on have all been cancelled.
“I’ve met their nurses before. They are inspiring, kind, caring and loving people who are currently caring for people at the end of their lives and keeping people out of hospital, helping the NHS cope with the coronavirus crisis.
“Every last crumb of the money you raise will help people at the end of their lives. So please join me by raising a cuppa, and some money, in your lounge or garden for the Marie Curie nurses on the front line”.
Vonnie Stevenson, community fundraiser for the eastern Highlands, Moray and Banff, said: “Our Blooming Great Tea Party looks a little different this year but I think everyone needs an excuse to meet up with their friends and family – online, of course – and check in on the people they love.
"If you can do that while raising some money for Marie Curie then your generous donations will enable us to help even more people at the end of their lives get the care they need in this time of uncertainty.
“We rely on the support of the amazing public to ensure our nurses can keep caring for people. And while the coronavirus crisis has badly impacted our fundraising events, we hope that by going virtual we’ll be able to raise the vital funds we need to keep supporting people in our communities across the north of Scotland.”
To register as a Blooming Virtual Tea Party host, visit https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/virtualteaparty or call 0800 716 146 for a fundraising pack full of hints, tips, recipes and fundraising ideas.