Use your free will to give to Willow Wood

A number of local solicitors will be waiving their fees in return for a donation to Willow Wood Hospice during Will Month this March.

Nobody knows what is around the corner but, by creating a will, people can have the reassurance of knowing that their wishes are in black and white, and that those they care about are provided for. This legal document not only provides for people’s loved ones but also ensures that their wishes are respected and upheld.

Now thanks to partnering solicitors, people can make a will which also makes a difference to patients with a life-limiting illness in the care of Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.

In return for their valued services, the solicitors ask that people make a donation to the hospice. They suggest £100 for a simple single will, £150 for a simple mirror will and £50 for changes to an existing will – these amounts are well below the solicitors’ usual will writing fees.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, is getting involved in Will Month by making her own will – something she has been meaning to do for some time.

“It’s something I’ve been talking about doing for years but, for me, it’s been a case of getting round to doing it,” Sam explained. “I’ve run out of excuses now! My personal circumstances have changed recently and it has made me think about planning for the future. I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row for when I’m no longer here. I have children who are adults and I’m giving them advice about planning for their future in investments etc so they are thinking about these sorts of things. Making a will is long overdue and it’s great that I can take this much-needed step in conjunction with raising funds for Willow Wood.”

Sam, 55, from Bury in Greater Manchester, wants to encourage others to support the hospice and believes the Will Month campaign is a great way to do so.

“I think it’s brilliant that local solicitors are partnering with us and waiving their fee to offer their services,” she said. "It’s great that they have chosen to support Willow Wood in this campaign and we are grateful to them. I want to encourage other people to support Willow Wood Hospice. I also have personal experience of my dad being cared for by our local hospice. I’m forever indebted for the care my dad received so I will always want to support any local hospice, especially Willow Wood.”

William Waddock, known as Bill, will also be making a will during the hospice’s Will Month as the retired former plant fitter from Audenshaw wants his wishes to be in writing to support his family when he is no longer here.

Although Bill is in relatively good health, he is active and spends a lot of time abroad. He will soon be 79 years old and believes now is the time to think about his future.

Supporting Willow Wood Hospice whose team cared for his wife before she died in 2010 is also important to Bill, who has four children, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He has since volunteered for the hospice, doing odd jobs around the charity shops, and donates whenever he can.

“I don’t want my family to have any problems when I die and I want to make the financial side as easy as possible for them,” Bill said. "When I heard about Will Month, I thought it was a great opportunity to support Willow Wood Hospice and put my future plans into place.”

Find out more about how you can use your free will to give at https://willowwood.org.uk/events/will-month/