Baking a difference: Morrisons launches limited edition 'COB for Care' to urge support for Marie Curie. * A Morrisons bakery staple, the Coburg Cob, has been rebranded to raise money for the UK's leading end of life charity * Handcrafted by Morrisons Market Street bakers at dawn, the 'Cobs for Care' honour Marie Curie nursing teams who work around the clock caring for people at end of life * It marks the launch of the 'Every Pack Gives Back' fundraising event, with donations made to Marie Curie for every promotional product purchased instore or online * The funds raised are more vital than ever, with someone dying without the end of life care they need every three minutes Morrisons has rebranded one of its famous loaves for the month of August to raise vital funds for the UK's leading end of life charity Marie Curie, renaming its handcrafted Coburg Cob the 'Cob for Care'. Baked fresh daily, the cobs are identifiable by their new bright yellow stickers - a nod to the charity's iconic daffodil emblem. With 25p from every sale donated to the end of life charity, they form part of the Every Pack Gives Back fundraising event. Every day, Morrisons Market Street Bakers up and down the country handcraft more than fifty thousand cobs, making them one of the supermarket's best-loved bakery products. They are made in-store at dawn, when many Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants have already been working through the night caring for people at the end of life and their families. The cobs are designed to honour that dedication, and to help raise vital funds to ensure that more people get the care and support they need at the end of life, when and where they need it most - because every three minutes in the UK, someone dies without the care they need[1]. The official partnership between Morrisons and Marie Curie recently celebrated a significant milestone, having successfully raised £7 million. The limited edition 'Cob for Care' forms part of the supermarket's commitment to raising £15 million for the end of life charity by October 2027. Throughout August, hundreds of Every Pack Gives Backpromotional products including Warburtons Crumpet Thins (8 pack), Lenor Scent Booster Spring Awakening 735g and Soreen Malt Loaf 250g will appear on Morrisons shelves and online, making it easy for customers to support the campaign with their weekly shop. Every Pack Gives Back is part of the Paint It Yellow campaign - a colleague and volunteer-led fundraising drive bringing together in-store events and volunteer collections to support communities nationwide. These include a national store relay that will see stores and sites 'pass the baton' as they fundraise across the UK throughout August. The More Card app will also turn yellow for August - with a reminder that customers can donate their More Card Points to Marie Curie in multiples of 1,000 (£1 value) through the More Card App or Morrisons More Card website. Each donation is converted into a monetary value and transferred to Marie Curie on behalf of the customer. Customers can also enter a competition to win 1 Million More Points (worth £1000) by activating the Marie Curie offer in their More App and simply buying any Every Pack Gives Back product. David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director at Morrisons, said: "Marie Curie's dedication to people and communities up and down the UK could not be more important, so we are urging customers to pick up a special 'Cob for Care' and show their support for end of life care. Throughout August, customers can help raise all-important funds for Marie Curie by buying a product in our promotional Every Pack Gives Back range - where a percentage of the sale price is donated to the charity..." Emma-May Ward, Marie Curie Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: "Every day, I meet patients and families whose stories stay with me long after my shift ends. Every person deserves dignity, support and compassion at the end of their life. As a charity, we depend on the generosity of the public to fund the expert care we provide day and night for people who need us most. The Every Pack Gives Back initiative helps to raise vital funds so we can reach more patients and families when and where care is needed." Carleton Rutter from Solihull, said: 'The way the Marie Curie team cared for Dad was incredible! It was like a real sense of: 'wow, Grocery Trader has got a break when they come in'. And when they were in the house, there was nothing you couldn't ask them. And they were always really happy as well. It was like an amazing mix of compassion, humour, and empathy. "They were like angels. The way they handled Dad was amazing to see...the confidence, the experience and training which they had, to deal with a man like my dad, because even though he had lost a lot of weight, my dad was still a big guy. They were also always consistent and could be counted on - when they said they would be there, they would. And because it was always the same nurses and healthcare assistants that came, they got to know Dad really well. They were incredible with him. And it was just what we all needed" Morrisons Every Pack Gives Back fundraising event is live instore and online throughout August, with proceeds from selected products donated to Marie Curie. For more information and to watch the film, visit mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partners/morrisons. [1] Source: DueCare project: Defining and Estimating Unmet Palliative Care Need in the UK, 2026

Volunteers needed for end of life support. A CHARITY is looking for volunteers to support patients during their final days. Marie Curie is calling on kind-hearted residents to join them as Companion Volunteers following the expansion of the service in partnership with Birmingham City Council and University Hospitals Birmingham. The service will be available at Heartlands Hospital from September and builds on the implementation of the service at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Good Hope Hospital. The service will see a dedicated team of volunteers providing support and a reassuring presence to patients at the end of life. Since November 2025, the service has supported more than 80 patients and 60 families, with the help of 10 dedicated Companion volunteers. Marie Curie Companions provide emotional and practical support for patients approaching the last days of life, as well as signposting to bereavement and end of life support services. Volunteers will also offer companionship to those who may not receive visitors and respite for families who need time away from the bedside. Oyelami Blessing, from Coventry, is a Marie Curie Companion volunteer at Good Hope Hospital. The 32-year-old said: "I wanted to volunteer because of my personal experience with grief. I lost my mum when I was 12 and two years later I lost my grandmother to blood cancer. "During my grandmother's final days, I spent a lot of time sitting with her. Looking back, I realise that although I couldn't take away her pain, my presence meant she wasn't alone. That experience has stayed with me ever since. "When I discovered Marie Curie's End of Life Companion role, I knew it was something I wanted to do. "It felt like an opportunity to offer someone else the same comfort and companionship that meant so much to my family. As someone who hopes to become a counselling psychologist, volunteering with Marie Curie has reinforced how powerful simply listening, showing compassion and being present for another person can be" Volunteers are asked to provide support for roughly three hours per week with comprehensive training and support given to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality support with confidence. Coreen Astle, acting associate director of Strategic Partnership and Services in the Midlands at Marie Curie, said: "We're really delighted to launch our Companions service at Heartlands Hospital. "Not only is the service a great comfort to the patient, but also to families who can arrange for a Companion to visit their loved one at a time when, for whatever reason, they cannot be there themselves. Heartlands Hospital serves a diverse community with a range of socioeconomic challenges, so there's a real opportunity for this service to positively impact the lives of people at the end of life, and their loved ones. "If you live in Birmingham or the surrounding areas and are able to spare a few hours per week to help people going through the toughest of time - we'd love to hear from you." Marie Curie supports people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer's (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's, and advanced cancer. The charity provides care and support in people's homes, in its hospices and over the phone via its free Information and Support helpline which is there for anyone who is affected by dying, death and bereavement. For more about volunteering as a Marie Curie Hospital Companion, contact [email protected] or call 07385 389310.