Belfast’s Marie Curie Twilight Walk Unites Over 700 for Care Awareness

More than 700 participants gathered in Belfast on March 15, 2024, for the annual Marie Curie Twilight Walk, a 7-kilometre (4.3 miles) event held at Barnett Demesne. This community event celebrated the lives of relatives and friends who received compassionate care from Marie Curie during their final days.

Among the walkers was Jemma Sewell, a Healthcare Assistant with Marie Curie, who took part in memory of her aunt, Joanne Galbraith. Galbraith passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 58 in January 2024. Sewell expressed her gratitude for the care her aunt received, stating, “The quality of care that Marie Curie provides for patients, as well as the holistic care for families, is second to none. My own family experienced this first hand when my aunt Joanne was cared for at the Marie Curie hospice in Belfast last year.”

Community Support for End-of-Life Care

Marie Curie is dedicated to providing expert end-of-life care for individuals facing terminal illnesses. The charity not only focuses on patient care but also offers vital support to families and friends during challenging times. As the largest charity funder of palliative and end-of-life care research in the United Kingdom, Marie Curie campaigns to ensure that everyone has access to quality end-of-life experiences.

The Twilight Walk has become a significant event for raising awareness about the importance of palliative care. Participants walk not only to honor those who have received care but also to highlight the critical need for ongoing support and funding for services like those offered by Marie Curie. The charity plays a key role in shaping the conversation around end-of-life issues, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of public health discussions.

For individuals living with terminal illnesses or those affected by death and bereavement, Marie Curie provides essential resources. Interested individuals can visit mariecurie.org.uk or call the free Marie Curie Support Line at 0800 090 2309 for assistance.

The unity displayed at the Twilight Walk serves as a powerful reminder of the community’s commitment to supporting those facing the end of life, ensuring that no one faces this journey alone.