Claire House helps families smile again , when life couldn ’ t get any tougher .
Does Claire House hold a special place in your heart ? Janet Abraham , Legacy Manager at the hospice , talks about the many ways people support the hospice from the very ordinary to the very extra-ordinary .
Claire House Children ’ s Hospice means such a lot to many people . The children and families that use the hospice , our staff and volunteers , local residents who admire the work we do and people from far and wide who simply care about children .
In my role as Legacy Manager at Claire House , I have the privilege of not only meeting the children , young people and their families that come to the hospice but also our amazing supporters . People that run , buy a lottery ticket , bake cakes or support us through their place of work . I love getting the opportunity to thank them for their generosity . However , when Claire House becomes a beneficiary in someone ’ s Will , I can never say ‘ thank you ’ to that person or find out why we were chosen . Yet , what is clear from such a generous gesture is that the hospice meant a great deal to that particular individual . One of these kind-hearted people was Wirral pensioner , Mr Frederick Kay .
Shortly after Mr Kay from Bebington died , I was told that he had left a significant amount of money to Claire House in his Will . Mr Kay had never married or had any children of his own , but had volunteered for many years for a specialist cancer charity that supported children . Having worked with sick children who sadly , do not live to adulthood , and with Claire House providing vital care to such children on his doorstep , Mr Kay made the momentous decision to leave his worldly possessions to his local children ’ s hospice .
Explaining Mr Kay ’ s decision , close friend Christopher Hall said : “ Fred was an unassuming gentleman who did lots for his community . He was a pillar of society and his decision to leave a gift in his Will to Claire House illustrates the kind and generous spirit that he will be remembered for ”. Mr Hall and his wife , Carol , have since visited Claire House to see for themselves how Mr Kay ’ s donation helps seriously and terminally ill children live life to the full ; experiencing firsthand the wonderful experiences and memories the specialist nursing team create to help families smile again when life couldn ’ t get any tougher .
However , for every child and their family who are getting our help , another struggles on alone , not having the chance to have the fun , support and care that we offer . This is why leaving a gift in your Will is so important to our fundraising . Clearly , it is a big decision , and ensuring that families and friends are well looked after is understandably a priority for many people . Therefore , it goes without saying that people only leave a gift to charity if it holds a special place in their heart .
I hope that sharing Mr Kay ’ s story will inspire other people to support us in this way . We are always grateful for every single donation we receive , no matter how big or small . A gift in a Will can be whatever you want to give ; whatever the amount , it really does make a difference and will help us support many more children in our local area .
If you would like to visit Claire House to meet the care team and hear more about the work we do then do please call me on 0151 343 0883 or email janet . abraham @ clairehouse . org . uk .