THE GAZETTE and Marie Curie Cancer Care is joining forces to launch the first ever local campaign to fund services in Ealing.

There are currently nine Marie Curie nurses in Ealing who last year provided 5,342 hours of free nursing care to 96 terminally ill patients in their own home.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is launching the appeal as Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT) has increased its commissioning of services in the area and wants to boost the hours to around 8,500 over the next year. Although part-funded by the (30%)NHS the charity relies overwhelmingly on public generosity.

This means MCCC needs to raised £170,000 to fund Ealing's service this year with readers' help and is why the Gazette is getting on board. There will be regular updates in the Gazette to keep readers informed and encourage them to donate or hold fund-raisers.

Speaking at the offical launch at the Ramada Encore Hotel in Acton (June 15) Claire Moss, London community fund-raising manager, said:"This is the first time we have made an appeal like this for Ealing. Our aim is to raise and spend money locally. We can only achieve this by working together as a community, with groups, organisations, faith groups and individuals."

She said the fund-raising events could include taking part in national treks like Mount Sinai Mountain challenge, sponsored walks, school fetes, swimathons, tennis and tea parties or by simply making a donation.

She said:"If anyone wants to start a fund-raising group in Ealing or do something new or different they can just contact us and we will help them."

Claire was joined by deputy mayor, Cllr John Ross, MCCC chief executive Tom Hughes-Hallett (cor) and Olive Hoare (cor) , one of the nine Ealing nurses, who is fronting the appeal.

Olive said:"Most people would want to die at home if they were terminally ill but only about a quarter of people get that wish. Ealing Marie Curie nurses want to help more people who live locally but we can only do it with your support. Every single donation, big or small, will help nurses like me care fore more people in Ealing.Thank you on behalf of future patients."

Christopher McDonnell, nursing team manager, North West London and a former nurse, spoke about his personal experience when his grandfather died. He said:" He was in a hospice in Hampstead and wanted to go home to die. Less than six hours later he was home in his favourite armchair. A Marie Curie nurse told us he was not likely to wake from his sleep. We were very shocked because we had no experience of this but we were being taken care of by someone visibly passionate about their work, sensitive and understanding.

"We felt very prepared, supported and looked after. From that moment I found I wanted to work in palliative care."

Now is the time to get on board and help us meet the £170,000 target. Anyone could need the nurses sometime in the future.

For more information contact Claire on: 07799 693839 or email claire.moss@mariecurie.org.uk. To make a donation or find out details of fund-raising events and how to apply log on to: www.mariecurie.org.uk/ealingnurseappeal.