Taunton student climbs to Everest Base Camp to raise money for Marie Curie

Cassie Sutton, 21, who grew up in Taunton, has decided to take part in a Mount Everest Base Camp Trek to raise money for Marie Curie.

Cassie is now studying law and criminology at university in Swansea and working part-time in the local Co-op.

She decided she wanted to give back to those nurses who may have been "overlooked" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I have spent the entirety of the pandemic working for Co-op as a keyworker," she said.

"To have such a role throughout the pandemic is definitely an honour despite the stress and tiredness it often creates.

"But the stress is nothing compared to the daily struggle nurses and other health care workers are enduring.

"This pandemic has shown me that I really want to do what I can to improve the lives of so many people and give back to the people who selflessly help others every single day.

"The NHS are recognised every day, as they should be, for their amazing work but I feel like the work of Marie Curie who are a non-profit charity has been overlooked. They rely entirely on donations to keep their nurses working.

"Although for the most of us life has come to a standstill throughout this pandemic, the work that Marie Curie nurses do has not. These nurses work on the frontline, day and night providing high quality palliative care to 33,920 people from the comfort of their own home."

SMILES: Cassie with her friends from Swansea Sirens (cheerleading team)

A £20 donation to Marie Curie will allow a nurse to work for one hour, whereas £180 will allow them to work for a day. And so Cassie has set herself a challenge of raising £3,190 for the cause.

"Taking on such a challenge like an 11 day trek to Everest Base Camp in September 2021 feels like something small in comparison and anything I can do to help aid Marie Curie nurses in providing their patients with such valuable care, when it’s needed most is worth doing," she added.

"As someone who has lost many people to terminal illnesses such as cancer and dementia it’s definitely comforting to know that Marie Curie is out there to help their patients and their families throughout a difficult time in their lives."

Cassie's mum, Mandy Cooper, from Taunton, said her daughter has always been "very thoughtful".

"She's always studied hard and she really is a beautiful, thoughtful and understanding girl," she said.

"She feels she wants to give something back and this is her way of doing it, by setting herself a challenge and achieving a goal for her and Marie Curie.

"I am single parent and when she phoned, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to afford it, but hearing her excitement I paid the registration fee for her - it is something that she wants to do and its something worthwhile."

If Covid-19 guidelines do not allow Cassie to make the trip this year, she will be taking part in September 2022.

To donate and support Cassie on her journey, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/cassiesutton