Charity’s appeal to help heroic squad

7:19pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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Bradford's Marie Curie charity is using Monday's National Nurses Day to say a big thank-you to its team.

Across the district, the charity has 27 nurses who travel around Bradford and Airedale caring for cancer patients and others with life-limiting illnesses.

Last year, they gave 15,000 hours of end of life care to people who wanted to stay in their own home rather than go into a hospital or hospice.

Cancer patient Rona Hant, 61, of Barden Avenue, Buttershaw, Bradford, is just one of the people who need their help.

Her husband, Edwin, 63, cares for her at home but a Marie Curie nurse comes in to give him a break two nights a week. "I'm here 24/7 for Rona but when the Marie Curie nurses comes it means I can get a good night's sleep.

"It's something that a lot of people take for granted but it's not easy for me. I don't know what we'd do without their help," he said.

Rona said: "It's reassuring when they come. I always give them a hug - I'm really pleased to see them and look forward to our chats. It gives Edwin a break too."

Senior Marie Curie nurse Rachel Hinton said: "It's not just the medical side of things we take care of.

"Often our company is just as important to the patient - it's the support and advice we give that is so vital at such a difficult time."

Patients are usually referred to the Marie Curie charity by their district nurses.

The service is free to patients but gets half of its funding from the local health trust, with the rest coming from its own fundraising.

Community fundraising manager Brenda Doyle said: "The Marie Curie Nursing Service provides a fantastic service to local families. But we do have to rely greatly on the generosity and support of the community we serve.

"Caring for a loved one who is sick, perhaps for a long period of time, can be extremely hard work physically and emotionally which is why the Marie Curie Nurses are so important to so many people."

To find out how you can help, call Marie Curie's fundraising office on (01274) 337036.