A supporter and user of Eden Valley Hospice says ‘making a gift in your Will is even more crucial now’ five years after COVID-19.

Five years since COVID-19 brought the country to a standstill many things that used to be taken for granted have not restarted.

For Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, much of the community activity that raised money for the charity has gone, which has increased the importance of gifts left in Wills.

The two centres provide care for free but are dependent on public generosity to keep going with only a fraction of the funds needed being provided by the NHS.

So loved ones of people who received care at Eden Valley and Jigsaw are sharing their stories to raise awareness of the Hospice UK National Legacy campaign.

Maureen Hodges of Carlisle still draws on support for the Eden Valley team 18 months after her husband Peter’s death.

“I have made a gift to the hospice in my Will,” she said. “People have to remember that since Covid, lots of the coffee mornings and bring and buy sales dropped away, so making a gift in your Will is even more crucial now.” 

Maureen’s husband Peter was diagnosed with cancer in March 2022 and passed away in Eden Valley Hospice 18 months later.

She said: “Peter passed away on September 2, 2023. I miss him every single day, but the hospice staff are still there on hand to help me manage my grief, and to find a new normal. I will never forget the care and comfort they gave us as a family.

“They care for the whole family as well as the patient. And really you are treated as family, you are not regarded as a patient.

“There was always someone to sit down and talk with. It was a very stressful time, and they did everything they could to minimise the stress.

“They sat and talked with us about memories. They are very keen to know who you are. You are not just a patient but a person with a name.

“And after your loved one is gone the hospice is still there and that matters a lot.”

Maureen added: “It is vital that we don’t lose this service. I don’t know if enough people realise that the hospice is a charity depending on the public for a lot of its funding.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the hospice. It is a service that really is vital – we must not let it go.”

You can help ensure this vital service continues to be here for the community by leaving a gift in your Will.

Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw are among 143 hospices across Scotland, England and Wales taking part in the Hospice UK National Legacy campaign.

Around a third of all funding Eden Valley Hospice receives comes from gifts in Wills.

Jenny Wilson, Director of Clinical Services and Deputy Chief Executive at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, said: “Gifts in Wills are vital to the survival and growth of hospices like ours, that’s why we’re asking our incredible supporters and community to consider leaving a gift in their Will to our hospice.

“We’ve come together with hospices across the country to highlight the essential role hospices play in our communities and in protecting our future.

“Once you’ve thought about your family and friends in your Will, why not consider supporting local families in need too?”

For details of how you can support the hospice through your Will, please visit Eden Valley Hospice’s website here

Maureen’s story

“They say life begins at 40 and for me it did because I met my best friend and soulmate.

“Peter had a wicked sense of humour and could talk more than me, which is saying something.

“He was a bit of a workaholic, but he still liked to live life to the full. We travelled extensively as a family.

“Peter and I had been together for 30 years when we received the devastating news that he had pancreatic cancer.

“Hospital staff thought an operation would put him in remission, but just when he started on chemotherapy we were told the cancer had spread to his liver and lung.

“Chemotherapy was brutal and after deciding not to go ahead with a third round, I contacted Eden Valley Hospice, who invited Peter to attend their Men’s Club.

“He was reticent at first, but after a couple of times he really enjoyed the camaraderie. It helped boost his spirits no end, and there was a hospice volunteer on hand to help with any worries, or information.

“In August 2023 Peter was admitted to the hospice to give me some respite and to make sure he was getting the right care and treatment.

“The staff were amazing, and the family and friends were encouraged to spend time with Peter in his room. Staff were always on hand to discuss any issues we had.

“Peter’s biggest fear was ending his life in hospital.  He wasn’t scared of dying, but he wanted to do it with dignity, and the hospice enabled him to do that.

“It also prepared us as a family, and on Peter’s last night, myself, our two daughters and son were able to spend it in his room, and I think he got comfort from knowing we were there in his last hours.”