St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Wills Month for this May, an initiative which encourages people to consider the distribution of their estate after their death.
Research shows 54% of people of UK adults are currently without a Will and through this annual initiative the hospice is calling on people to write or update their Will this May.
Wills Month has been held annually since 2016, raising more than £107,538 for the hospice during this time. A number of local solicitors will once again be supporting Wills Month with booking available to be made from 1 April.
Lynn Maskell, Legacy Officer at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Wills Month is a great opportunity to take a simple step that can bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones.
“If you are thinking about leaving a gift in your Will to St Elizabeth Hospice, whatever the size, every gift helps us continue to develop and grow our services. Your support allows us to care for more local people and their families across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney when they need us most.”
Annually the hospice cares for more than 4,000 patients and their families at a cost of around £12m, of which 70% is raised by the community through gift donations in Wills, St Elizabeth Hospice’s retail shops and local fundraising activities; with one in four patients cared for by funds donated by gifts in Wills.
One person who is leaving a gift in their Will to the hospice is Nick Hayward, whose wife Anne received support from the hospice’s Inpatient Unit team until her death, aged 73 in April 2020.
“For me the hospice’s care offers many important things. One of these is a sympathetic and understanding environment that supports the person who is sick, as well as family and loved ones,” said Nick.
“Giving back helps ensure that others can also benefit from their care, which is why I have decided to leave a gift in my Will to St Elizabeth Hospice.
“The process of writing your Will is quite straightforward. I approached it with clear thoughts about what I wanted to happen and went to see a solicitor with a list of priorities.
“Through writing your Will, you gain peace of mind knowing you have taken care of things as best you can and can trust your attorneys to carry out your wishes as fully as possible.”
Read Nick’s case study in full here –
CASE STUDY
Nick Hayward, St Elizabeth Hospice Wills Case Study
Giving back helps ensure that others can also benefit from their care, which is why I have decided to leave a gift in my Will to St Elizabeth Hospice
“For me the hospice’s care offers many important things. One of these is a sympathetic and understanding environment that supports the person who is sick, as well as family and loved ones,” explained Nick Hayward, whose wife Anne received support from the hospice’s Inpatient Unit team until her death, aged 73 in April 2020.
Annually, St Elizabeth Hospice delivers care to over 4,000 patients and their families, living with progressive or life-limiting conditions throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
Every year, these services cost around £12m to facilitate, with 70% of funds being raised via revenue streams and community generosity such as gifts in Wills, retail shops, donations and fundraising activities.
In fact, 1 in 4 St Elizabeth Hospice patients are supported by funds from gifts in Wills, with every penny making a difference to those under the hospice’s care.
Following the care given to Anne, Nick is one of many generous people who have pledged to leave the hospice a gift in their Will.
“Anne had many hobbies and a wide range of interests. Academically curious, she enjoyed history, mechanical engineering, gardens, nature, crafts, lace-making and calligraphy. In fact, much of her work can be seen decorating our home,” said Nick, who lives near Framlingham.
“The first part of Anne’s career was in the MoD(N). After we moved to Suffolk, she became involved in engineering, focusing on farm machinery – Sales Admin. A role which saw her often visit the Suffolk Show, an event she always enjoyed.
“Anne’s diagnosis came out of the blue in 2012. She was found to have breast cancer after a lump was discovered in a lymph gland. She had an operation to remove it, but unfortunately, it was not possible to remove it completely.
“She survived for eight years with chemotherapy and other treatments – a rollercoaster of feeling well and not so well.
“Despite the treatment, we still enjoyed many activities together, including sailing, gardening and walking. You wouldn’t have known she had a serious condition.
“In 2020, as her health declined, she spent more time in hospital due to having breathing difficulties caused by fluid on the lung. In April, the oncology department referred us to the hospice, where she stayed for two days before she died on 7 April.
“Without question, from the moment we stepped into the hospice it was welcoming and far from having a miserable atmosphere. The nurses and volunteers were so warm and friendly, while also showing real sympathy and care.
“You feel confident that your loved one is in good hands and that their condition will be managed appropriately. There is a supportive atmosphere created by people who understand what you are going through.
“Most importantly, St Elizabeth Hospice enabled us to be together as husband and wife. Nothing was too much trouble, especially during the uncertain times of COVID. There was a real focus on us as people, with the staff always willing to help or answer our questions.
“I could telephone or speak to staff for advice whenever I needed. They also paid close attention to Anne’s situation, both medically and in terms of comfort.
“The hospice nurses were incredibly empathetic when Anne died. I was with her, holding her hand and they allowed me all the time I needed, treating Anne and I with the utmost respect and dignity.
“One thing I feared leading up to Anne’s death was the change from being part of a couple to being single. The friendship and partnership we shared for 50 years was gone
“Memories help, but it’s not the same. It has been difficult, but knowing Anne received the compassionate support she needed, provides me with comfort. She would have wanted me to carry on and live as normally as possible, and that is what I have tried to do.
“St Elizabeth Hospice delivers an incredibly important service in our local community. As a whole, funding for hospices is always a challenge, yet they do so much. Without this support, the services they provide would be greatly reduced, to the detriment of everyone who relies on them.
“As in my case, being a relative of someone who is dying is an incredibly emotional experience. You may not always know how to cope, whereas the hospice has the experience of supporting families in these situations and can provide guidance and solace when it is most needed.
“Giving back helps ensure that others can also benefit from their care, which is why I have decided to leave a gift in my Will to St Elizabeth Hospice.
“The process of writing your Will is quite straightforward. I approached it with clear thoughts about what I wanted to happen and went to see a solicitor with a list of priorities.
“Through writing your Will, you gain peace of mind knowing you have taken care of things as best you can and can trust your attorneys to carry out your wishes as fully as possible.”
To find out more about leaving a gift in you Will to St Elizabeth Hospice call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation/make-a-gift-in-your-will.
About St Elizabeth Hospice
St Elizabeth Hospice improves life for people in East & Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Our work is centred on an individual’s needs, which means specialist support, whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice. Through medicine and therapy we ease pain; we give life purpose and make life liveable.
To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wills Month call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-donate/gift-in-wills/wills-month/
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