Emmerdale star calls on women to ‘detox’ their party season wardrobe

VERITY Rushworth is inviting women to donate a party outfit to Marie Curie Cancer Care to help provide free nursing to terminally ill patients at the end of their lives.

Verity, aka Donna Windsor-Dingle, has given a former favourite Christmas party outfit, that she once loved but will not wear again, to a Marie Curie Shop – and she wants you to join her.

And you never know what fantastic bargains you may discover for your new 2009 wardrobe when you visit one of the 180 Marie Curie Shops across the UK.

Verity said:- “I’m sure many women, myself included, will have treated themselves to a special new frock or sparkly top for all those Christmas and New Year parties. But although we love these outfits, all too often after that one-off occasion they are confined to the back of our wardrobes, never to be worn again. Marie Curie Cancer Care offers such wonderful care to terminally ill people, and support for their families, that I would urge anyone to support the charity. I have also opened a Marie Curie Shop and have seen the brilliant, high-quality clothes on offer. So please donate an outfit to your local Marie Curie Shop. Whatever you donate, and buy while you are there, will help provide free nursing care to terminally ill patients at the end of their lives, at home or in a Marie Curie Hospice.”

Lorna Clarkson, Marie Curie Cancer Care Nursing Ambassador of the Year for England, said:- “Most people want to die at home or in a hospice. In reality, half the population die in hospital – the place they least want to be. Marie Curie Nurses like me care for terminally ill people over the festive season, ensuring they can spend their final Christmas where they want to be. Everyone should be able to choose where they spend their final days. By donating your special party season outfits to a Marie Curie Shop, you can help provide that choice.”

To find your local Marie Curie Cancer Care Shop, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/shopfinder.

For more information about Marie Curie Cancer Care, please visit:- www.mariecurie.org.uk.

‘Spooks’ star sets Merseyside Christmas Card Recycling Mission!

BBC 'Spooks' and 'Cold Feet' actress, Hermione Norris is asking Merseyside residents to recycle their Christmas cards to help the Woodland Trust plant thousands of trees.

Hermione wants London to try and beat last year’s impressive figures, which saw local residents dropping off 1,530,000 cards at branches of WHSmith1, Tesco2, TK Maxx3 and Marks and Spencer4. (Liverpool collected 748,000, Sefton collected 223,000, Knowsley collected 82,000, St Helens collected 387,000, Wirral collected 90,000).

All the cards collected during January are taken to paper mills where they are recycled into brand new products, with the money raised helping the Woodland Trust to plant thousands of new trees in some of its 1,000 UK woods.

Last year, the scheme saw 73.6 million cards being handed in – enough for 17,000 trees to be planted.

As well as creating new woodland, it also stops waste going to landfill, which results in harmful methane being pumped into the atmosphere. Last year, Merseyside residents alone stopped 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases being omitted, through recycling cards.

Hermione Norris, who recently appeared in series seven of the BBC’s Spooks, said:- “I want to challenge Merseyside residents to make it your mission to collect as many Christmas cards as possible! Sending cards is a lovely tradition, but instead of throwing them away after Twelfth Night, take your cards to a participating store, and pop them in the special bins provided. This will mean the Woodland Trust can plant thousands more trees and also help the environment by reducing waste. So do your bit this January and make it a green 2009!”

The Christmas Card Recycling Scheme is part of the Woodland Trust’s campaign to make the UK a greener and healthier place. Currently, only 12% of the country is wooded, compared to the European average of 44%.

Sue Holden, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said:- “A world without trees would be a pretty desolate place. By recycling just one card each this year at participating WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer stores throughout January, you can help us plant thousands of trees and move one step closer to achieving our vision of doubling native woodland in the UK.”

For more information log onto www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards.