Hazel’s story: Why she left a gift to Pilgrims in her will
Hazel Hayward’s passion for Pilgrims Hospices was driven behind a lifetime career of nursing. She began volunteering in one of the first fundraising teams at Pilgrims in 1991; she aided in raising vital funds to build a brand new hospice in the Isle of Thanet.
In 1992 the first patients were admitted and Hazel continued to fundraise, spending her time manning stalls all year round at numerous local fairs.
Mary Annett, friend of Hazel Hayward said: “I first met Hazel when I was a nurse at the hospice; I remember her coming in with a bag of money one Monday morning having just spent a particularly cold and wet weekend at a fair in St. Nicholas, selling hospice bookmarks and telephone pads.
“She was incredibly cheerful and so happy to be playing her part in keeping the hospice running.
“Hazel had very kindly decided to leave Pilgrims a gift in her Will, with the hospice playing a major part in Hazel’s life during her retirement.
“When she wasn’t out in the community fundraising, or collecting giant cheques from local organisations, she dedicated her time to making different items that could be sold to raise vital funds.
She was incredibly cheerful and so happy to be playing her part in keeping the hospice running.
Mary Annett
“This was well recognised, as in 2002 she was awarded a certificate of merit for outstanding service to her local community. Hazel leaving a gift in her Will means her devotion to Pilgrims can carry on, even after she has gone.”
When Hazel’s memory started to deteriorate, her kind-hearted friends took her under their wing to look after her nearing the end. They will always remember Hazel to have never lost her sense of humour. Hazel spent her last moments in a local Nursing Home and was provided with excellent care and the comfort she deserved after a lifetime of serving others.
By leaving a gift in your will to Pilgrims Hospices, you’ll help to ensure that each person in east Kent with an incurable illness receives the right care where and when they need it.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 4,000 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live well in mind and body until the very end. To offer these services, Pilgrims must raise approximately £11 million each year from the generous local community.
24th April 2020
Shirley’s story: Why I’m leaving a gift to Pilgrims in my will
Shirley Johnston has experienced first-hand the vital support provided by Pilgrims Hospices to people across east Kent. Her mum and husband both received the charity’s compassionate care at the end of their lives; Shirley decided to give back by leaving a gift to Pilgrims in her will so that other families can continue to benefit from its services in the future.
My first experience of Pilgrims was in 1985 when my mum was cared for at the Canterbury hospice. Many years later my husband, Gordon, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and had to undergo major surgery leaving him with a prognosis of 18 months. Despite this, he defied all odds by surviving another eight years! When his cancer eventually came back, I knew it was going to be painful for him so it was important for me that he received support from Pilgrims Hospices, just like my mum had.
It made such a difference, it was so important; Pilgrims became everything as it gave him a purpose and a reason to keep going.
Shirley
He attended the Pilgrims Therapy Centre in Ashford as an outpatient for over a year, getting support with his pain, breathlessness groups, and day therapy sessions. As his carer, I was offered neck and shoulder massages as part of a pamper day. It made such a difference, it was so important; Pilgrims became everything as it gave him a purpose and a reason to keep going. He used to say “I just live at half-mast these days” but would still head into the hospice to read the paper to a friend who had trouble with her sight. When he eventually came into Pilgrims in Ashford for his last few weeks it was so peaceful. As he would have wished he was surrounded by his family at the end.
As we’d spent so long coming to Pilgrims it was like being in a family and I was quite bereft without it after he’d gone. I attended a bereavement group and saw three ladies there that I’d met through the Therapy Centre when Gordon was alive. All our husbands had been patients and had died within four months of each other – so it was a real comfort for us to be able to support each other through such a difficult time. We became great friends and even now we all come back to the hospice once a month to meet up for lunch.
Leaving a gift in my will to the hospice is as important to me as it was to my husband. I could never have cared for either my husband or my mum in the way the hospice cared for them. I’m leaving a gift to the hospice to ensure that this incredible service continues to be here for future generations, for my children and grandchildren.
Shirley
After some time had passed I really wanted to fill the void of what I had lost, so I decided to volunteer as a gardener at the Ashford hospice. Every week, you will find me in the ‘wild’ garden pottering around with my friend, Sue, keeping the gardens a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.
Gordon and I always spoke about wanting our money to be left to the hospice. When making my new will after I had spoken to my family, I split my estate six ways between my five children and Pilgrims.
Leaving a gift in my will to the hospice is as important to me as it was to my husband. I could never have cared for either my husband or my mum in the way the hospice cared for them. I’m leaving a gift to the hospice to ensure that this incredible service continues to be here for future generations, for my children and grandchildren.
By leaving a gift in your will to Pilgrims Hospices, you’ll help to ensure that each person in east Kent with an incurable illness receives the right care where and when they need it.
Please note: This story was written before the COVID-19 outbreak. For current information about all hospice services at the present time, including visiting our hospices and volunteering, please click here.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. To offer these services charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.
