THREE women who have all lost loved ones to cancer have teamed up to help ease the suffering of terminally ill people across the area.

Tenacious trio Maggie MacKean, Charlotte Williams and Mharianne Dennett have all experienced the pain of losing family members.

The women, who are all from Inverclyde, have united to raise as much money as they can to support Marie Curie – a charity which provides care for people living with any terminal illness.

They have helped to set up a new fundraising group in the area and are speaking out in a bid to encourage more people to get involved.

Mharianne, from Broomhill in Greenock, says Marie Curie nurses provided invaluable support to her dad Tam Dennett and her auntie Christine MacInnes, who both died after battling terminal illnesses.

She said: “My dad was 63 when he passed away a few years ago, he had developed lung cancer

“My auntie Christine was just 52 when she lost her battle with the condition five years ago.

“She had pseudomyxoma, which she had for years.

“They were both comforted by the Marie Curie nurses so I wanted to give something back.

“Even after my auntie passed away the nurses provided support for my cousins.”

Through the local fundraising group Mharianne is raising money for the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal – which involves dressing up as a flower to persuade people to part with their cash. 

She added: “During one of our collections an older gentleman came up with his wife, who was very poorly, and asked if I would go in a photo with her to make her smile.

“It’s great that I can do that and fundraise at the same time.”

Maggie, 73, from Kilmacolm, has also joined the fundraising group for reasons very close to her heart.

She said: “My mother Helen Houston died at the age of 59 from ovarian cancer.

“I was 22 at the time and it was devastating as I had just been married.

“My brother-in-law John MacKean had colon cancer and he fought it for two years.

“When I couldn’t get him into a hospice, the Macmillan nurses came in during the day and the Marie Curie nurses came in at night.

“Both these cancer charities are really close to my heart.”
Maggie has been collecting money for Marie Curie for several years now.

She added: “In the case of the Marie Curie nurses, I don’t know what we would’ve done if it had not been for them. I have been raising money for the charity for several years now and it makes me feel as if I’m doing something worthwhile.”

Charlotte, 66, also from Kilmacolm, has seen first-hand how amazing the Marie Curie nurses can be.

She said: “My mum Annie died of cancer. The charity’s nurses came in and were very helpful, so I have done marathons and 10k runs for Marie Curie and Macmillan over the year.

“I think cancer is something which affects everyone.

“When I chat to people, Marie Curie is close to their hearts.”

Lynsey Neilson, community fundraiser at Marie Curie, hopes more people from across Inverclyde will join the ladies and help back the new group.

She said: “The new fundraising group in Inverclyde will make a huge difference locally by helping to raise the vital funds needed to support Marie Curie nurses, who provided 1,848 hours of care of free care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes throughout Inverclyde last year.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in fundraising for Marie Curie is asked to phone Lynsey on 0771963622 or sign up online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil