“The word I always think of when thinking of St Christopher’s is angels – angels that swept in and made the worst time of our life that little bit better.”
As a lifelong Orpington resident, Nick has always been aware of St Christopher’s.
But it wasn’t until his beloved wife Linda was diagnosed with Stage Four cancer in 2018, and he then became a trustee of the hospice two years later, that he understood the true extent of St Christopher’s care and the reality of its funding.
Nick is adamant that without St Christopher’s there is no way Linda could have fulfilled her wish to die at home, shared with a nurse from the hospice in their very first meeting.
And, informed by his new-found knowledge of our reliance on fundraising, Nick decided to leave a gift for St Christopher’s in his Will.
“I didn’t really understand what they did until we needed them,” Nick says. “I am absolutely convinced now that without the incredible care and support we received from St Christopher’s it just would not have been possible and, most likely, Linda would have died in hospital making it a far more traumatic experience for my sons, Sam and Jake, and me.”
“I was so impressed with how quickly they mobilised. We needed equipment, and it was there. She was in pain, and they administered the appropriate drugs, and they were always available to answer my ‘what should I do questions’, whatever time of the day or night.”
Being in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home helped provide Linda, Nick and their family with the kind of peaceful atmosphere families crave at this most difficult time.
“An important part of the end of life journey is sorting out your affairs and in it’s so much easier in the more intimate environment of your own home to have some of those difficult discussions rather than in a hospital bed.”
The way in which Linda was treated as a person and not just a patient in those final weeks stays strong in Nick’s memory. “I remember fondly not just the medical care but the pampering too. When the nurse came, Linda would brighten up and I could hear chatter and laughter coming from the room. They painted her nails and massaged her feet. It was like having a private spa in my house in Orpington. It was so important for her to have a real break and that was such an unexpected part of the care they gave. St Christopher’s helped Linda live life as best she could right up to the end.”
“Even 1% can be left in your Will so those closest to you still inherit 99%.”
It wasn’t until Nick took up his role as a trustee of the hospice that he truly began to realise the reliance on the generosity of the public and on legacies in particular.
Of the more than 4,000 people St Christopher’s cared for last year, gifts in Wills effectively paid for the care of 1,500 of them.
“Lots of people think about including St Christopher’s in their Will, but don’t get around to it and then the moment passes. My advice would be, don’t miss the opportunity. Even 1% can be left to St Christopher’s in your Will so those closest to you still inherit 99%. Every gift makes a difference and means St Christopher’s can continue to provide the wonderful support I’ve been fortunate enough to experience.
“The word I always think of when thinking of St Christopher’s is angels – angels that swept in and made the worst time of our life that little bit better.”
Leave a gift in your Will and help us to support people now, and into the future
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