Welsh actor and Marie Curie Ambassador Suzanne Packer officially opened a unique shop for Marie Curie, the UK's leading end of life charity, in Penarth this week.

As part of its annual Great Daffodil Appeal, the Penarth Marie Curie charity shop is offering customers the chance to purchase a 'Gift that Matters' from 11 – 24 March rather than its usual selection of donated items.

Marie Curie provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, in the comfort of their own home or at one of its nine hospices, and support for their family and friends.

The Penarth shop will create a space that brings to life meaningful and emotive items that tell the story of how the UK's leading end of life charity provides care and support at the most challenging time in people's lives.

Shoppers who 'buy' an item will be given a thank you card they can keep or give to a loved one as a gift. Every purchase will go towards a similar item needed by the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale which is only half a mile away or to help provide expert care and support in people's own homes in South Wales.

A selection of items can be purchased at the shop including:  

• £3 - cost of meal in the hospice
• £17 - cost of a support line call
• £50 - fuel for a Marie Curie Nurse's car
• £120 - heat the hospice for a day
• £5,096 - a year's training for eight Marie Curie Nurses

Suzanne Packer said: "It has been a pleasure to officially open the Marie Curie 'Gift That Matters' shop in Penarth during the Great Daffodil Appeal.

"Meeting the staff and volunteers and hearing stories about the care provided in the region for people living with a terminal illness has been inspiring.

"I am encouraging everyone across the Vale to visit the shop in Penarth and buy a 'Gift that Matters.' Every donation will make an enormous difference to Marie Curie and enable them to continue to provide vital end of life care."

Neil Andrews from Cardiff has supported Marie Curie for the past two years. As both his mum Ann Andrews and mother-in-law Marlene Viggers received care from Marie Curie within 12 months of each other. He said:

 "I know firsthand about the care provided by Marie Curie in Wales as my mother-in-law sadly died in Jan 2022 followed my wonderful mum in December 2022. They both died at home and Marie Curie were there with us every step of the way.

"Marie Curie is not just there to look after someone who is terminally ill. They are there to look after families as well, whether it was someone to talk to and ask questions, or looking after them both during the night so we could get some much-needed sleep."

Siwan Seaman, Medical Director at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff, and the Vale said: "We hope everyone will take the time to visit the shop and buy essential items to help support people with any illness they are likely to die from and those close to them.

 "In 2022/23 we provided expert end of life care and support for 752 people at our Hospice in Penarth and 2,301 in their own homes across the Vale.

"During March, Marie Curie holds its flagship fundraiser the Great Daffodil Appeal, so it is a great time to buy a 'Gift that Matters' and find out more about our work in the region.

 "From you, or in the name of a loved one, everything you buy supports those who need it most."

Visitors to the shop can also speak to Marie Curie staff or volunteers to find out more about Marie Curie services or supporting the charity including the Marie Curie Information and Support Line, Bereavement support, Fundraising, Volunteering, Corporate partnerships, and Gifts in Wills.

The 'Gift That Matters' shop will be open from 11-24 March (from 9.30am-5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday)