“Your Gift, Is Our Future”
Research shows that 51% of adults do not have a Will. Making a Will, especially one that includes a gift to a charity is an incredibly powerful way to support those causes close to you. This is something the Hospice knows all too well, as currently the care of 1 in 3 of our patients is funded thanks to the generosity of previous generations.
Having supported families across Somerset for over four decades, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure we are there for anyone who needs hospice care in the future. That’s why today we are launching a brand-new campaign to highlight the importance of legacy fundraising – the generous act of remembering a charity in your Will.
“Your Gift is our Future” highlights the critical role that gifts left in Wills play in ensuring hospice care is here for future generations.
At the heart of this campaign are the stories of real people whose end-of-life journeys have been made more positive, with lasting memories created thanks to the care provided through gifts in Wills. David and Lynda are one such family who turned to us during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
After a 45-year career as a dentist, David and Lynda were ready to embrace retirement. However, their plans took an unexpected turn when David was diagnosed with prostate cancer just before their dream trip to New York. Despite this, they remained hopeful and created cherished memories on their journey together. As David’s health worsened, they reached out to St Margaret’s Hospice for help. Soon after, Angie, one of our dedicated Community Nurse Specialists, entered their lives. Lynda recalls that moment vividly:
It was like nectar from heaven: help was here.Lynda
Angie quickly became a lifeline for the family, ensuring David had the support he needed to remain at home while managing his pain and providing comfort to his loved ones. “Angie was amazing,” Lynda says. “She visited regularly, made sure we had all the equipment and medication David needed, and always made us feel like she was part of the family.”
David’s determination to live well, despite his illness, was clear when he expressed his greatest wish: to walk his daughter, Delia, down the aisle at her wedding.
“Angie immediately jumped into action to help make that happen,” Lynda recalls. David began attending sessions at the Sunflower Centre, St Margaret’s day hospice, where he gained physical and emotional strength. Through a mix of physiotherapy, peer support, and medical care, David found the resilience he needed to work towards his goal. His determination, coupled with the hospice’s unwavering care, allowed him to walk his daughter down the aisle and deliver what Delia calls “the most articulate and beautiful speech a daughter could ever wish for.”
The hospice’s impact extended beyond David’s care. It provided his family with peace of mind and unforgettable moments of joy.
Thanks to St Margaret’s, David didn’t just attend our daughter’s wedding; he danced with us all night. I will forever be grateful for those memories.Lynda
David passed away just a month after the wedding, but his wish was fulfilled, and the family was able to celebrate together one last time. For families like David’s, a gift in a Will ensures that St Margaret’s Hospice can continue providing care that supports not only the individual but their loved ones during life’s most difficult times.
Kim Gaylard, who works alongside supporters who have pledged gifts to St Margaret’s, comments, “Leaving a gift in your Will, no matter how big or small, allows us to keep providing this essential care for families like David’s. It’s an act of kindness that ensures future generations can rely on us when they need it most. Your gift is our future, and with it, we can continue creating these moments of joy and dignity.”
St Margaret’s Hospice care is provided free-of-charge at the point of need to everyone who requires it, whether at home or in one of their hospice sites at Taunton and Yeovil. But as the population ages, the demand on their services is growing, while resources available to fund hospices is becoming even more stretched. While we receive some funding from the NHS, last year 72% of the costs were raised through their charity shops, fundraising and the income received through gifts in Wills. This means that each year, we must raise over £10m to support free hospice care for families in the Somerset community. We are committed to helping future generations and families like David’s.
By choosing to leave a gift to St Margaret’s Hospice, you can make a real difference to the lives of future patients and their families. Your gift is our future – pledge now and help protect hospice care for years to come – while we won’t receive your gift for many years, it does mean we can plan and safeguard our care. It’s a gift that will live long into the future.
Learn more about Gifts in Wills