PEOPLE living with a terminal illness will be given more freedom to be cared for at home, thanks to a partnership between Marie Curie and a Yorkshire-based stairlift company.

Acorn Stairlifts, based in Steeton near Skipton, has pledged to provide up to five stairlifts each month, with a value of up to £135,000, for people cared for by Marie Curie across the UK.

The partnership, which will see the stairlifts installed free of charge, will support terminally ill patients living at home.

The initiative, which aims to deliver and install 60 stairlifts a year, was announced with the support of Marie Curie patron Christine Hamilton-Stewart, who helped to raise £3.5million to build the Marie Curie Bradford Hospice in 2001.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.

Marie Curie is the UK's leading charity for people with any terminal illness, providing care and support in hospices and at home. The charity helps patients and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.

Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Christine Hamilton-Stewart said: "Corporate support from local businesses is so important to any charity, but to see this incredibly generous partnership between Acorn Stairlifts and Marie Curie Bradford grow into a national initiative, which will impact on so many families across the country, is fantastic.

“For families where quality of life is of the essence, fast access to a free stairlift means precious time can be spent at home. The charity is delighted that Acorn has pledged such a significant ongoing donation and look forward to the partnership blossoming in the future."

Nicky Read, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Marie Curie said: “We are delighted that Acorn Stairlifts has chosen to support Marie Curie by providing free stairlifts to hospice patients who wish to be cared for in their own home. This unique initiative will make all the difference to the support we provide to people living with a terminal illness and their families.”

Acorn Stairlifts, which has been manufacturing and installing stairlifts for more than 20 years, was recently named a British manufacturing champion. Company secretary Dave Belmont said: "We are delighted to welcome Marie Curie as a new charity partner. Every nine minutes, someone benefits from installing an Acorn Stairlift and with such vital, life enhancing work already undertaken by this incredible charity, we are looking forward to supporting their essential work even further through the free installation of our stairlifts for their patients. We know from our customers how life-changing a stairlift can be. We are proud to be helping even more people through this ground-breaking initiative with Marie Curie.”