A NEW fundraising group has been set up in Porthmadog to help terminally ill people.

Local dignitaries gathered with nurses and service providers at Glaslyn Leisure Centre on Friday to launch a new Marie Curie branch, which will raise funds for local nurses and services.

The organisation, which is made up of volunteers from across the county, welcomed local AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Lord Lieutenant Edmund Bailey, Gwynedd High Sheriff Peter Harlech Jones and local councillors to the launch.

The group is looking forward to the year ahead, starting with the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal this February and March, when they intend to turn local communities into a sea of yellow by hosting collections across the region.

Lord Elis-Thomas said: “I am looking forward to showing my support by taking part in our local collections and will happily have some fun by wearing the Marie Curie big yellow hat and tabard on the streets of Porthmadog.”

Community fundraiser Victoria Hardy was also looking forward to getting stuck in.

“We will have lots of collections across the area and need local people to come forward and give an hour or two of their time to take part,” she said.

“The average collector will raise between £80 to £100 for the charity which will cover all the costs of providing a Marie Curie Nurse for five hours.”

The first fundraising group meeting will take place on Monday, 20 February, at the Library inside of the Glaslyn Leisure Centre from 5.15pm to 6.15pm. For more information, call Victoria Hardy on 07590 729665.

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