“It’s very reassuring to know that I’ll be able to support Isabel Hospice after I’m no longer here.”
It was shortly after I finally retired that I was walking along the High Street wondering what to do with all this time I suddenly now had, when I was asked by a volunteer to support Isabel Hospice I thought “That’s it! I can volunteer for the hospice!”
That was 16 years ago – and I’ve been volunteering at Isabel ever since.
I’m here pretty much every day, working in different areas of the hospice. I help the Events team with general admin during the warmer months (I love a golf day!). Recently I’ve been working with the team placing donated goods onto eBay – it’s astonishing how generous and thoughtful people are!
Whether it’s organising the eBay shop or standing outside a store with a bucket, I’ll be there – because my time matters. My grandchildren tease me that they earn more money than I do from their paper round – but I couldn’t care less about that. The hospice is one big, welcoming, happy family – everyday here is a day of fun, laughter and shared moments across our community. All the nurses and staff here are superb, so caring, so dedicated. I sometimes go onto the In-Patient Unit and I never cease to be amazed and moved by that experience.
I know how deeply Isabel relies on fundraising and especially on the income from Gifts in Wills. I have made my will and I update it regularly. My family comes first; my wife, children and grandchildren have all been fully considered. But I have also made a provision for the hospice. It’s very reassuring to know that I will be able to continue to support this wonderful charity so that local people will benefit from their magnificent care when I’m no longer here.
If you can, I urge you to join me.
Thank you – and best wishes.
Larry Wood
Find out more about leaving a gift in your will here: isabelhospice.org.uk/legacy
