Tribute raises over £11,000 in aid of Farleigh Hospice

Farleigh Hospice has been providing care and support for anyone affected by a life-limiting illness or bereavement for almost 40 years. To enable the hospice to deliver its services, it relies on the support and goodwill of the local community to help raise over £6 million each year. In-memory donations are a valued source of funding, making it possible for Farleigh to continue to help people to live as actively as possible from the point of diagnosis, to the end of their lives, by providing physical and emotional care, free of charge.

Tribute donations not only raise money for the hospice, they also provide a special place for the families and friends of our patients to remember their loved-ones and share their memories with a network of people who also loved the person that has passed away.

Last year, the idea of one of Farleigh’s patients created an entirely new concept for the hospice for its tribute fundraising. Andy Glew turned in-memory giving on its head during his time at the hospice, working with the fundraising team to create Farleigh’s first ever living tribute.

Andy was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer, in July 2019 and was given four months to live. Soon after his diagnosis, he was referred to Farleigh via Queen’s Hospital in Romford. Andy was provided with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who came to his house regularly and offered support and advice on all elements of his care. Andy also utilised the services of the day centre which, after being reluctant to try at first, he thoroughly enjoyed.

It was during this time that Andy approached the Farleigh fundraising team about creating a living tribute page to raise money. He wanted to do it while he was alive, so that he could have an input into the design of the page and to encourage his friends and family to fundraise in support of the hospice. With the help of Farleigh’s Fundraising Manager, Debbie de Boltz, Andy and his wife, Sarah created Farleigh’s first ever living tribute using an Everlasting Tribute page.

Sarah said: “The fact that Andy created his tribute page while still alive sums up his positive approach to his illness. From the minute we were given the news, Andy just accepted it. He will always be remembered for his positivity, for always wanting to do the right thing, and for his love of life. He was the bravest most courageous human being I will ever meet.”

It is this positivity that saw Andy live beyond the initial timeframe predicted by his doctors. But in December 2019 his condition deteriorated. In early January 2020 Andy stayed in the hospice in-patient unit (IPU) for two weeks. Of this time Sarah says: “the fact that I could stay overnight was a real godsend because it meant I could still be with him.”

He returned home for few weeks but then returned to the IPU at the end of February. Sadly, Andy passed away at the end of March 2020, but through his family’s and friend’s support, his tribute page continues to raise money in his memory and has raised over £11,000 to date.

Sarah says “I am blown away by how much we have raised in memory of Andy. He was such a full of life character and people’s generosity is testament to how well-loved he was. I am so pleased that the fundraising events organised by our friends and family were able to take place, despite the pandemic, and that they raised so much money for Farleigh. Andy will forever be in our hearts and in our memories, but our tribute is there as a permanent place where people can share their memories of him. I would not have got through this difficult time without the care and support that Farleigh Hospice provided and I plan to continue to raise money for them through our tribute page.”

Deborah de Boltz, Fundraising Manager at Farleigh Hospice said: “Andy’s request to create a living tribute to raise money was a first for us. We were more than happy to make it happen and worked closely with both Sarah and Andy to ensure that it was exactly how they wanted it to be. Thanks to Andy, living tributes are now something we are able to help create for other patients. Tribute fundraising is a vital source of income for us. Thanks to money raised in this way, we are able to continue to provide vital care for those with life-limiting illnesses as well as offer much-needed support for their families. We would like to say a huge thank you to Sarah for keeping the tribute going for Andy, and to everyone who has donated in his memory, he really was a remarkable man.”

Tributes made in aid of Farleigh Hospice can be made via www.farleigh.muchloved.org

To discuss making a living tribute contact our Fundraising Manager, Debbie de Boltz on 01245 457352 or email Debbie.de.Boltz@farleighhospice.org

If you would like to donate in Andy’s memory visit https://andy-glew.muchloved.com/