After her Mum died, Anne decided to leave a gift to Bolton Hospice in her will.

Although Anne’s Mum wasn’t cared for in the hospice itself, she did receive care from the Hospice at Home team. 

She said: “I cared for my Mum at the end of her life.  In the last fortnight, two nurses visited us that we hadn’t seen before.  Those two nurses were different.  They had a special manner.  They treated us with such humanity & kindness, they felt like family, really.  It wasn’t too formal feeling or awkward, it was just nice to sit and have a proper chat and a cup of tea.  They spoke to us about next steps and what we both knew was further along the horizon, that was helpful as people can tend to avoid it.  Having worked as a carer myself, I understand the importance of connecting with people and making them feel comforted - those two nurses did just that”

Anne’s Mum died shortly after, but the hospice care she received meant she was comfortable and cared for with compassion and dignity.

“I saw a man talking on the news talking about how he was supporting his local hospice.  After seeing that, and our experience with those two nurses, I decided I wanted to leave some money to my local hospice in my will so that other families can get the support their loved ones deserve.”

Bolton Hospice’s yearly running costs total £7million. 

1 in 5 of Bolton Hospice’s patients are cared for by Gifts in Wills.

“I think people hear the word ‘hospice’ and think that it’s just somewhere where people go to die or somewhere incredibly miserable - and that’s scary.  But, actually, it’s a lovely atmosphere.  Medical appointments can be overwhelming and frightening, but as soon as I walked into Bolton Hospice, I felt a sense of calm. 

I’ve since accessed the hospice’s Bereavement Services, which I’ve found to be so useful.  I only reached out a couple of years after Mum died, because immediately after it happened, I was totally consumed by sorting out practicalities – her house, her will, her possessions.  It didn’t dawn on me until later that I hadn’t had the time or space to grieve my Mum’s death properly.  The Bereavement Services are giving me the chance to do that now.

To anyone reading this or thinking about donating, just do it.  It’s so important that everyone has the opportunity to receive that kind of care and treatment at the end of their life, and their families, too.”

If you’re interested in donating to Bolton Hospice or would like to download a Free Gift in Will Guide please visit Bolton Hospice’s website.