Profile on fundraiser Margaret Axon

Margaret Axon has been organising fundraising events for Farleigh, including the Danbury and Little Baddow Open Gardens for over 42 years. She explains why this hospice has been such an important part of her life.

“I was 16 when my brother, Tim, was diagnosed with lung cancer after coughing up blood. Back then, in 1957, there were none of the scans and treatments that we have today. He had an operation but it was unsuccessful as the surgeons found that the cancer was inoperable. He was just 21. I remember Tim writhing in pain before he died but there was nothing that they could do for him. He’d already been given pain relief and the nurses told us that they couldn’t give him any more for the next four hours.

In those days, people didn’t really talk about their feelings - there was no bereavement counselling. My parents tried to protect me, so I wasn’t allowed to go to Tim’s funeral. I didn’t talk to them about Tim, in case I made them cry. In 1959, I started working as a nurse. I remember having exactly the same conversation about pain relief with relatives when I was treating patients who were terminally ill.

22 years later, I went to a coffee morning where they were talking about setting up a local hospice in Chelmsford to provide specialist end of life care and I’ve been fundraising for Farleigh Hospice ever since. My friend, Sylvia, and I began by organising coffee mornings and three jumble sales a year in Danbury. We were delighted when Farleigh Hospice first opened its doors to patients and we carried on fundraising.

My husband, Stuart, and I held the first plant sale in our front garden 30 years ago. People are just so nice, either growing plants for us to sell or coming along every year to buy them. During lockdown, there was a socially-distanced queue of customers that stretched down the road! The plant sales held during Covid 19 raised around £4,000.

I have two friends whose husbands died. When Farleigh became involved with their care, they immediately felt safe and supported with their care and empathy. They wanted to give something back so we organised a fundraising cream tea in my garden. Unfortunately, it poured with rain but the show must go on, so we somehow squeezed 84 people into my house! They couldn’t move but they all had fun supporting Farleigh.

In 2000, Sylvia had the idea of opening up our gardens for people to pay to visit. We started with my garden and three others. I think mine was awful back then – one lady sat in our conservatory and said that her garden was much nicer! – but we still raised about £400.

Sylvia moved away and I’ve continued to organise Danbury and Little Baddow Open Gardens each year. About 20 to 25 gardens take part now with stalls on the village green too. It really is the most enjoyable day. People are so lovely and grateful to see your garden and you know that local people will benefit from the money that we make for Farleigh. In 2023, we raised £13,239, bringing the Open Gardens total to almost £185,000.

In 2022, I was given a Highly Commended Pride of Essex Award for my fundraising, but I didn’t achieve this on my own. Thank you to Stuart and all the wonderful people who supported me for the benefit of Farleigh over the many years. Together, we must have raised over £300,000 overall.

Stuart and I are moving out of Essex this year to be closer to our daughter, so Open Gardens is now in the capable hands of a group of people who will do a brilliant job. I will leave Danbury feeling satisfied that, in some small way, I have helped Farleigh Hospice to be there for people at the end of their lives and their families, giving them the fantastic care and support that they need.”

If you are interested in fundraising for Farleigh Hospice, please call 01245 457411 or visit Fundraise for us