Marie Curie Cancer Care provides a free nursing service to terminally ill people who want to be cared for at home at the end of their lives.

Now it is appealing for funding to care for more people in East Yorkshire - including Driffield - by providing more nurses like Marie Curie Nurse Julie Pickering, who is fronting the new appeal.

The charity has to raise £400,000 to fund the service in the region, and is appealing to local people to help.

Julie is one of 30 Marie Curie Nurses in East Yorkshire, who last year provided more than 17,218 hours of care to help people with cancer and other terminal illnesses.

The charity has been campaigning for increased investment in end of life care and with increased awareness of its nursing service demand is growing.

Launching the appeal at Burton Agnes Hall, near Driffield, Julie explained; “Most people would want to die at home if they were terminally ill, but only about a quarter of people get that wish.

“Marie Curie Nurses want to help more people who live locally, but we can only do that with your support.

“Every single donation, big or small, will help nurses like me care for more people in East Yorkshire.”

Working with the NHS and other local partners, Marie Curie Cancer Care aims to double the number of people with a terminal illness who are able to die at home by 2013.

There are lots of ways in which local people can support the nursing appeal. Supporters can raise funds through taking on challenges like trekking or mountain biking, volunteering their time, hosting an event such as a Blooming Great Tea Party or supporting the Great Daffodil appeal in March.

For more information, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or contact Cheryl Barrett, community fundraising manager in East Yorkshire by ringing 01723 378111 or emailing Cheryl.barrett@

mariecurie.org.uk