Marie Curie Cancer Care was founded in 1948 as the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation. In 1952, the Foundation officially became a charity dedicated to alleviating suffering from cancer and the first Marie Curie Home was opened in Scotland. In 1958, the charity had 26 nurses who cared for 88 patients over the year.

Nowadays, Marie Curie Nurses provide free nursing care to cancer patients, as well as those with other terminal illnesses, in their own homes. There are 10 Marie Curie Hospices across the UK, which provide the best possible quality of life for people with cancer, and the Marie Curie Research Institute carries out research into the causes and treatments of cancer.

In total, Marie Curie Nurses have cared for 375,000 patients and their families over the past 60 years and have clocked up 21 million hours of nursing care since the service was established. Of course, this number increases every night.

The charity's objectives are to give cancer patients more choice and better care at the end of their lives and to pioneer new ways to care for patients at the end of their lives. Providing a Marie Curie Nurse in a patient's home for just one hour costs £20 and the charity provides more nursing care every year. Thus there is a real need to inspire more people to give their time and money to support the charity's work.

2008 is Marie Curie Cancer Care's 60th Anniversary Year. The charity is campaigning to double the number of people who are able to die at home, to provide more free care to make this possible and to raise more funds to support the charity's work.

Marie Curie Cancer Care's Special Events Team organises an annual programme of high profile and successful corporate and social committee led events in London including two Brain Games in the City, a Private View of the Spring Sales at Christie's, a Private View of the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, an Autumn Lunch and Carols in the City at Southwark Cathedral in December.

To celebrate the charity's 60th Anniversary, the Special Events Team is organising an exclusive gala evening at the Wallace Collection at Hertford House. There will be a champagne reception in the beautiful galleries followed by a three-course dinner with fine wines, an auction and musical entertainment in the Courtyard.

Over the Summer, the charity will also be holding its Blooming Great Tea Party Campaign encouraging supporters to hold their own special tea party. Every tea party, however big or small, will help Marie Curie Cancer Care support more families affected by terminal illnesses. The event will run from 12th June to 12th July - the day when the charity officially celebrates 60 years of care.

If you would like to know more about Marie Curie Cancer Care and their events Tel: 020 7599 7777 or Visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk