Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party is going virtual this year and the charity needs tea party hosts in Dorset.

The end of life charity is calling on residents to throw a Blooming Virtual Tea Party from home this summer, a fun way to stay connected to loved ones during this time and a great way to support nurses working on the frontline.

The charity is caring for people with terminal illnesses, as well as people with Covid-19, in people’s homes across Dorset and is protecting the NHS by keeping patients away from hospital. However, its fundraising income has been hit and it had to cancel its Great Daffodil Appeal and close its charity shops.

Natalie Garland, Marie Curie fundraising manager for Dorset said: “Our Blooming Great Tea Party looks a little different this year but I think everyone needs an excuse to meet up with their friends and family - online of course - and check in on the people they love. If you can do that while raising some money for Marie Curie, then your generous donations will enable us to help even more people at the end of their lives get the care they need in this time of uncertainty.

“Last year, Marie Curie provided care and support to over 1,600 people in Dorset, allowing them to die at home where they wanted to be.

“We rely on the support of the amazing public to ensure our nurses can keep caring for people. And while the coronavirus crisis has badly impacted our fundraising events, we hope by going virtual we’ll be able to raise the vital funds we need to keep supporting people in our communities across Dorset.”

To register as a Blooming Virtual Tea Party host, visit mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty or call 0800 716 146 for a fundraising pack with hints, tips, recipes and fundraising ideas.