A new volunteer fundraising group has launched in Chippenham and surrounding area to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Chippenham and District Fundraising Group met last week to celebrate the formal launch of the group before holding their first business meeting to start planning their awareness of the charity and their fundraising activity.

The new group have a host of experience and knowledge of the charity and are keen to start fundraising as a group.

Anne Orchard, the new group’s chairman, said: “I believe in the work that Marie Curie does and I’m happy to be part of the organisation. I’ve been fundraising for the charity since the age of nine, a long time.”

The group’s first fundraising activity will be for The Great Daffodil Appeal; the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser. The campaign takes place every March and the group is keen to get more collectors for the collections at Whitehall Garden Centre, Chippenham on Saturday March 2 and the Chippenham town collection on Saturday March 9.

The Chippenham and district fundraising group will raise vital funds so Marie Curie Nurses can continue to provide free care to people with terminal illnesses, through supporting Marie Curie’s major fundraising campaigns such as the Great Daffodil Appeal and Blooming Great Tea Party, as well as promoting fundraising within the local community and encouraging new supporters to help the charity.

Lucy Stockall, community fundraiser at Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “The new fundraising group covering Chippenham and district will make a huge difference locally by helping to raise the vital funds needed to support Marie Curie Nurses, who provide free care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes.”

To join or find out more about the group, the Great Daffodil Appeal and other ways to support the charity, call Lucy Stockall on 0117 9247275 or email lucy.stockall@mariecurie.org.uk