Marie Curie is a name most of you will have heard. Those who have called upon their services will understand the depth of the continuing need for their help.

I’m sure everyone would agree, no matter whether it is an expected or an unexpected death, the effect of losing a loved one is devastating. Maybe for children, this effect is more poignant.

In March 2017, on the eve of my mother’s funeral, my sister Stefanie Morrison was given the diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer. The same cancer that had taken our mother from us only weeks prior. In May of 2017 Stefanie was admitted to the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull, to ease the final weeks of her life. Stefanie loved walking around the beautifully kept gardens of the hospice but felt saddened by one little area - the area set aside for the fairies. There is one, albeit beautiful, fairy house and a couple of forlorn looking fairies. On enquiring she found the area had been set aside for the use in counselling grieving children. Regrettably the idea of a fairy village has never reached fruition due to the lack of funds.

Stefanie had a life long passion for helping children reach their full potential. This was shown in her chosen career, helping teenage children learn the three R’s and comprehend literature. In Stefanie’s last days she relayed the wish for the completion of the fairy village and she truly believed it would enhance the efforts of the staff counselling grieving children. Stefanie had no idea of the enormity of her wish.

Our aim is to raise £10,000

The total cost of the fairy buildings is £8000. This is for 10 x fairy buildings, all furnished and with solar lights, standing approx. 4ft tall.

Please check out Ollie Wood on Facebook to see his work. I will happily supply the quote for anyone interested from Ollie Wood. Ollie Wood has not only agreed to make ten buildings, all bespoke, hence different, including shops, houses, an inn etc. but has taken off all postage/shipping costs as an amazingly kind donation.

reclaimed teak root furniture, 1 table and 6 stools, Made from solid teak almost impervious to rot and can be left ourside all year round.

£899.00

To keep in with the fairy village theme, this is the type of furniture we would like to purchase. The purpose of this purchase is for the counsellors and children to sit near the village. It will not be this exact one as all rooted furniture is bespoke and this one will most likely be sold by the time we have raised the funds. It gives us a good idea of the amount we will have to pay.

ENLARGE

The Narcissus Post Box

£582.29 The post box will be for the use of the children to post their feeling, hopes, prayers and wishes. This is the only box I have been able to find which is in keeping with the magical theme.

We have set aside the sum of £518.71 for the toad stools, animal ornaments and paving stones for the fairy houses to sit on in order to stop decay.

We are now on a mission to raise the funds and make the fairy village a reality.

Friends have said they will do a sponsored swim, we are approaching companies for prizes to run a raffle. If you can donate to this very worthy cause no matter how small, it will be greatly appreciated. We have the outlook “every little helps”

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. I may take a few days to get back to you, but I will answer.

Please mark the email subject MARIE CURIE FAIRY VILLAGE

suraq1@hotmail.com

Susie Marston