A massive £44,000 was raised last year for palliative care charity Marie Curie by big-hearted Dundonians.
The figure was revealed at the annual Blooming Great Tea Party, hosted by Lady Provost Linda Borthwick at Dundee City Chambers.
A series of events had been organised throughout the year to raise cash for the charity, which supports terminally ill people at home.
Attendees at the tea party heard the money would buy over 2200 hours of professional nursing care at home for individuals with a range of conditions, including cancer.
Charity patron for Dundee and Angus Petra McMillan paid thanks to everyone who contributed.
She said: ”We are hugely grateful to everyone who has supported us in the last year – be it buying one of our daffodil lapel pins in March, sponsoring someone taking on a sporting challenge for us – every single penny counts.
“We are also very proud and thankful for the work of our mini-army of volunteers – 61 across Tayside – who make things happen, we simply couldn’t do it without them.
“Our free nursing service is a lifeline to families in their time of need but I know our nurses too so appreciate the public support we receive in Dundee and across Courier Country.”
Established just five years ago, the Dundee Marie Fundraising Group supports the charity’s community nursing service in Tayside with a range of initiatives.
These include the annual abseil challenge at Dundee University and collections during the Great Daffodil Appeal in March.
With just 50% of funds needed to finance Tayside’s community nursing service provided by the NHS, the charity relies on fundraising to meet the shortfall.
Typically known for their overnight service from 10 pm to 7 am, there are currently 20 Marie Curie nurses in Tayside. Last year they supported 74 people at home, at the end of life with 537 visits.
In Dundee around 1785 people die each year and of these 1335 have a palliative care need.
In Scotland last year the charity cared for 8601 people with a terminal illness either in their own home or in one of the charity’s two hospices in Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Ms McMillan added: ”People are at the heart of our charity – those we care for but also those that find the time in their lives – even just two hours a year – to help us continue and build upon the services we deliver locally.
“Donating time is as precious as donating money and our doors are always open to anyone who is interested in what we do.”
