A CUPPA was raised to celebrate 10 years of the Solihull Marie Curie Hospice.
Volunteers former and current staff, supporters and those cared for by Marie Curie came together for tea parties at the Marsh Lane hospice on June 22.
The Hospice was also visited by Miranda the Morris Minor – The Morris Minor Owners Club have refurbished an April 1963 2-door Morris Minor called Miranda which is travelling across the UK to help generate support for the work of Marie Curie and to raise interest in and awareness of the owners club.
Both Marie Curie and the Morris Minor Owners Club are celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2023.
Speaking at one of the tea parties Hazel Carter – whose husband Alan died from motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019 aged 64 and was cared for by Marie Curie – said: “Not everyone is aware that Marie Curie doesn’t just care for cancer patients but anyone who has a terminal illness and needs help.
“We had tremendous support from Marie Curie, because our multi-disciplinary care team meetings were based at the Solihull hospice.
“I cannot praise the staff at Marie Curie enough. I think without their support I’d have gone insane, and Alan would not have had the quality of care he deserved.
“His last two months of life were in Marie Curie Solihull. I was with him the moment he died.”
Over the last 10 years, Marie Curie has delivered care to over 13,500 patients in the West Midlands, providing nursing services in patient’s homes as well as in the in-patient unit at the hospice.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “The Marie Curie hospice does such important work – supporting patients and their carers with tremendous compassion and sensitivity.
“Good palliative and end of life care can make all the difference to individuals and families at what is a trying time. So I thank all those involved for all that they do.”
The former Marie Curie Hospice was at Warren Pearl House in Solihull which had been caring for patients in the region since 1965.
The current Marsh Lane hospice building was opened in 2013 after years of planning and welcomed King Charles when he was Prince of Wales in his role as patron of the charity in June 2013.
During his tour of the building and grounds, The King visited the day service centre, met volunteer gardeners and staff, and spent time privately with patients.
The hospice must fund raise £10,830 every day to fund the hospice and its services which equates to £3,952,950 every year.
