Marie Curie UK

Grief is a personal journey. There's no right or wrong way to grieve and it feels different for everyone. 💛

We love this quote from Liliana Orzac talking about the loss of her husband Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers.

If you would like to speak to someone about your feelings, contact the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.

After the Olympics came to a close over the weekend, we reflect on some of the stories that touched us 💛

Last Friday, over 300 swimmers took to the water to take part in the annual Padstow to Rock Swim. 🏊🎉

And now, in its 13th year, the event has raised over £1 MILLION for Marie Curie. What an incredible achievement!

A big thank you to the swim committee, volunteers, and everyone that has taken part or supported the event over the years. 👏 Exposure Photo Agency

💬 “You never fully move on from grief, it lives with you throughout your life.”

In the latest episode of our podcast, writer and performer Harriet Madeley talks to us about the sudden death of her best friend, and how storytelling can help with grief, ahead of her new Edinburgh Fringe show 'Outpatient.'

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: bit.ly/4fufyH7

"I see Nicola not only as a Companion, but as a best friend." 🤗💛

Kelly is living with heart failure and has support from her companion, Nicola.

She told us: "I don't have much to look forward to, but I definitely look forward to every Wednesday, when Nicola visits for a couple of hours. I can say anything to Nicola, to get things off my chest.

"Marie Curie has meant that I don't feel alone. I get to laugh again. I get to enjoy the time I have left, without feeling such a burden on my family. I feel like Marie Curie has given me, a little bit of me back." 💛

Visit: https://bit.ly/3NTcQ1N to find out more about our companions.

Have you ever struggled with "sadmin" tasks after someone dies?

Getting things in order can be overwhelming, especially if the companies you're dealing with don't understand what you're going through.

📢 That's why we're calling on companies to make things easier for dying people and those going through grief.

✍️ Add your name to our petition if you agree that companies need to make "sadmin" simple. 🔗 bit.ly/3LCQccs

After her husband John died, Janet Ellis MBE experienced just how difficult it can be to contact companies and do the necessary admin while grieving.

That's why she is supporting our petition asking companies to do more to support terminally ill & bereaved customers.

Will you add your name too? ✍️ bit.ly/3LCQccs

What is "sadmin" and why does it need to change? 🤔

No one should have to spend so much time and energy wading through piles of admin, especially when they're grieving.

Companies must do more to support terminally ill and bereaved customers now.

✍️ If you agree, sign our petition and help us tell companies to make "sadmin" simple. 🔗 bit.ly/3LCQccs

💭 Dementia is a terminal illness.

But Marie Curie has the expertise to transform the lives of people living with dementia and their loved ones. We provide personalised, expert end of life care that responds to an individual’s needs, whatever the illness.

Whether you have a diagnosis or you’re caring for someone with dementia, we're here to support you. Visit: https://bit.ly/4d8YqVs to read more about our specialist dementia services in some areas in Wales.

💭 Could you donate a special item to one of our shops?

Something that's been important to you, could become important to someone else. Visit: https://bit.ly/3WhPhDr to find your closest store. 💛

☀️ 🌡️ As the weather heats up, we understand cooling equipment may impact your energy usage and bills.

If you’re living with a terminal illness or caring for someone who is and you’re worried about rising energy costs, here are some steps you can take.

Contact our Energy Support Officers for free on 0800 090 2309.

🔗 For more support, head to: bit.ly/3L3UBVq

💒👰 Our first Bridal pop up shop is now open! Take a look around. 👇

There is a whole range of wedding attire available from dresses to suits, and accessories, at a fraction of their usual price. 👏 The shop is open in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, until Wednesday 28th August.

We're teaming up with Superdrug to encourage their summer shoppers to top up their in-store purchases with a 20p donation to Marie Curie. 🛍️💛

TV presenter, Karim Zeroual, and Nurse Sophie are backing the initiative and urging shoppers to donate if they can.

Karim said: "The work Marie Curie do to help people at the end of their lives is so valuable – so I encourage everyone to donate on their next Superdrug shop. Twenty pence can feel like very little compared to what you’d spend overall, and yet it helps to make a monumental difference to this vital charity.”

Donations will help us to improve end of life care for all, whatever the illness. So, when you visit Superdrug, don't forget to top up your purchase by 20p. 👏

✍️ We hand-delivered our petition to No.10 and told the new government loud and clear: it’s time to fix end of life care.

Every single person who is dying or bereaved deserves the best possible support, right to the end.

No one should be left to face the current crisis in end of life care.

📢 It’s time for change.

“End of life care for people with dementia isn't like care for other conditions.”

We spoke to Angela, a Senior Nurse for Marie Curie's Welsh Palliative Dementia Service, about end of life dementia care. 👇

"There’s a huge and growing need for dementia care at the end of life. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, was the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2022.

"Our population is aging. And more and more people now live with multiple terminal or life-limiting conditions."

To read more from Angela about our specialist dementia services, or to donate to help us provide more expert end of life care to people living with any terminal illness, including dementia, visit: https://bit.ly/3XUMpid

How many of these things have people said to you after a loved one has died? How did they make you feel? 🤔

It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving.

🔗 For tips on what to say and do: bit.ly/3XOqARg

Rachel is a nurse with the Durham Urgent Hospice Care at Home team. 💛

She told us about the importance of her team. "We are one of the only teams that offers the 24-hour service in the UK and I strongly believe that support should be available everywhere. More people are wanting to die at home.

"Many people are living to over 100 now, and they’ve worked extremely hard their whole life. If their one wish is to die at home, then why should they have to die somewhere else?

"At home they probably won't be as frightened of death because they know they’re surrounded by the things that they know and love."

Visit: https://bit.ly/42oOZNz to find out more about our hospice care at home service.

❔💭 What is hospice care at home?

Marie Curie Nurses, healthcare assistants and palliative specialists provide clinical help and emotional support in the comfort of your own home, day or night. Here's what hospice care at home means. 👇

Visit: https://bit.ly/42oOZNz for more information.

Congratulations to John and Julie who recently got married at our Glasgow Hospice. 💛

The couple met more than 5 years ago when they were neighbours and quickly fell in love.

John told us: "The wedding was such a joyous occasion - I got to marry the woman I love. I couldn’t believe that the hospice would do this for us and pull all the right strings to make it happen."

John is in the hospice for pain management after he received a terminal diagnosis in February. Their beautiful day was organised by Carol, the hospice Chaplain.

"It was very emotional. Carol made it intimate and as special as possible. Through her dedication and experience and everyone’s help, they managed to give us a proper reality TV show style wedding. We felt like total stars.

"It was the gift that kept on giving. It will remain special for as long as we have. They made the day perfect for us and we will never forget it."

Join us in sending best wishes to John and Julie for their future together. 🤗
Photos: John Clark Photos

🚨 The incoming government have an opportunity to fix the crisis in end of life care.

But dying and bereaved people need ambitious action.

We've taken a look at how each party responded to the issues that matter most to people living with terminal illness this General Election. 👇

🔗 Read the full blog: bit.ly/3zwjJlu

More ambitious action is needed to fix end of life care This general election, Marie Curie wants all candidates and political parties to commit to fix end of life care.

There’s still time to make sure that everyone running to be an MP knows about the issues that matter most to people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones.

Here are a few things you can do:

✍️ Sign our petition here: bit.ly/3V0l5go

🗳️ It's election day. Your vote matters, so make sure you use it.

Everyone should have the best possible end of life experience, but far too many terminally ill people are missing out on the basics we take for granted.

📢 This election, it’s time to fix end of life care.

📢 We've been getting out and about across the UK in the run up to this week's election.

We know it can feel a bit awkward to talk about death, dying and bereavement. That's why our reverse graffiti has popped up in 25 different spots across Bristol, to help get the conversation started. 🎨

Have you spotted any of it yet? 👀

We were also joined by senior nurse Angela Maundrill, who spoke to candidates standing to be MPs across Bristol about the challenges of delivering end-of-life care and what needs to change.

And, earlier this month our daffodil wall got people talking in London, where we asked the local community to share with us what they want their end of life to be. Plus, we chatted with candidates standing in Glasgow and Durham.

✍️ Don’t forget to sign our petition and help us tell future government it’s time to fix end of life care. 🔗 bit.ly/3V0l5go

Last weekend, our Marie Curie hospices in Newcastle and the West Midlands opened their gardens to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme. 🌻💛

And the sun was shining! ☀️ There wasn’t a cloud in sight as visitors enjoyed games, cakes, and the blooming beautiful gardens.

A BIG thank you to all our volunteers who make these days such a success, and to the National Garden Scheme for their ongoing support of Marie Curie.

🎵 As the festival season begins, we would like to know, do you have a song that reminds you of a loved one?

Share with us in the comments below. 💛👇

💬 "No-one should lose out on support at the end of life because they fear being judged." 💛

This Pride Month, we take a closer look at what inclusive end of life care really looks like and why it's so important.

Andrew works at our Bradford hospice, he shares his story. 🌈 👇 bit.ly/3VIq7xl

“We value and celebrate LGBTQ+ people’s identity and relationships" Inclusive end of life care for LGBTQ+ people is vital to ensure everyone gets the support they need, says Andrew Marshall, Principal Social Worker at the Marie Curie Hospice Bradford.

💬 “I was always an emotional kid growing up, yet this thing happened and I was not crying. I was witnessing all this and I thought there was something wrong with me."

In the latest episode of our podcast, Bridgerton Netflix actor Lucas Aurelio talks to us about his experience of grief after the deaths of his grandfathers.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: bit.ly/3zmPjlB

If you're caring for someone with a terminal illness, it's important to keep them comfortable in the heat. 🌡️ ☀️

With temperatures rising this week, here are some simple steps that may help during the heatwave. 👇

☀️ 🌡️ As the weather heats up, we understand cooling equipment may impact your energy usage and bills.

If you’re living with a terminal illness or caring for someone who is and you’re worried about rising energy costs, here are some steps you can take.

Contact our Energy Support Officers for free on 0800 090 2309.

🔗 For more support, head to: bit.ly/3L3UBVq

“Dad was always there for me. Now I’m there for the people who looked after him.”

Stacey's dad, Robert, had hospice care at home before going to our West Midlands Hospice. She shared how the care and support he received in his last days meant so much to their family.

"The care he received meant more than just peace of mind that I didn't have to worry. Dad loved the hospice, he'd have a good old chat with the ladies and one of the cleaners, a good old chinwag. They all used to keep his spirits up." 💛

Marie Curie was there when Dad couldn’t be Stacey’s dad, Robert – known as Bob to his friends – had hospice care at home before going to Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands. She explains how the much the care and support he received in his last days meant to their family.

🏳️‍🌈 If you’re LGBTQ+ and living with a terminal illness, you might have specific questions or concerns when it comes to planning ahead for your care and practical needs.

From telling professionals that you're LGBTQ+, to choosing who you want to be involved in decisions about your care. 👇

🔗 Visit mariecurie.org.uk/pride for more.