Marie Curie Cancer Care has launched what it claims is the first dedicated charity app for fundraising collections. The Virtual Collection Tin app for iPhone, Android, Nokia and BlackBerry is aimed at fundraisers for the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal, the charity’s flagship fundraiser which takes place in March.

Everyone is encouraged to give a donation in return for a daffodil pin. All money raised will allow Marie Curie nurses to provide more free care to people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes. The charity needs to recruit over 20,000 volunteers to make the appeal a success, so anyone who can spare an hour to help someone in their final hours, is asked to call Marie Curie Cancer Care on 0845 601 3107.

The app gives fundraisers a quick and easy way to send text messages to their contacts, inviting them to donate to Marie Curie. People can choose to donate either £2 or £5 in reply to the text message, and are charged via their mobile phone bill, so there’s no need to provide bank details.

The app, developed by Grapple Mobile and UM London, is available now by texting DAFF to 82727, and will be in app stores in the next couple of weeks. Text donations for £2 or £5 can be made by texting 2 or 5 to 70800. The donation amount, plus one standard rate SMS will be charged to the mobile phone bill. A minimum of £1.52 or £4.39 goes to Marie Curie.