Pic: Claire Shaw

A local school choir performed Christmas songs for local shoppers today to raise money for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.

Over 48 children from Ivydale primary school in Nunhead sang festive songs at Lewisham Shopping Centre to support the charity’s Christmas collection.

It is the first of two events organised by Lewisham Marie Curie Fundraising Group, which hopes to raise over £500 to support home nursing in the borough.

Sue Jennings, 63, chair of the Lewisham fundraising group, said all the money raised will go towards supporting end of life care in the borough, which gives people suffering from serious health problems, including cancer, the choice and support of where they would prefer to end their life.

Jennings said: “End of life nursing provides huge relief for patients and families. We rely on voluntary donations. Without people giving money, there won’t be any nurses.

“It couldn’t be a more worthwhile cause, to provide nursing for people at the end of their life and free of charge.

“Our aim is to keep people at home. We have found that most people want to stay at home till the end.”

It costs the charity £20 per hour to home nurse an individual suffering from a serious health condition. The charity said most people prefer nurses to stay overnight, which costs an average of £160 per night.

Jennings said there is a “huge need” for professional home nursing in Lewisham, and she hopes “people will be generous this Christmas.”

Lola Akintoye, 46, NHS Workforce Development Manager, came to watch her daughter performing in the school choir. She said: “It is a fun way for children to engage in a good cause. It is a good way of them to develop a moral and social conscience at a young age, and that is why I have come to support it.”

The charity will host another collection on December 15, which will see children from St Saviours and Dalmain school choirs perform carols, as well as an appearance from R-Jay, the former winner of Lewisham’s X-Factor, and a live performance from the runners up of the competition, Carla & Victor.

For more information about volunteering with the charity in Lewisham, email: mariecurielewisham@hotmail.co.uk. For general details about the charity, visit the website.