A mum receiving end of life care has been supported by Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity and generous members of the community to celebrate Eid with her family.
The patient is being cared for at Goscote Hospice and has three children, aged nine, 10 and 12 who would traditionally receive gifts as part of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations which follow the end of the fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims.
Hospice staff contacted Well Wishers’ Fundraising manager Georgie Westley as they wanted to make this time as special as possible for the whole family and the charity has previously helped dying patients to make memories.
Georgie said: “We really wanted to do all we could for this mum at such a difficult time and, as always, our generous communities responded.
“We are so grateful and know that this kindness means such a lot to this family at its time of need.”
Well Wishers funded food and decorations and received support from Morrisons’ community champions – Rachel Ward from the Walsall store who donated pyjamas for the children and Laura Andrews from the Willenhall store who handed over a box of toiletries and pyjamas.
Amrik Singh, Director of Vibrant Networks, came along to the charity’s Fundraising Hub at Walsall Manor Hospital with his daughter Amanat Jessal and brought gifts including the full set of David Walliams books for the family’s eldest daughter.
Mohammed Arif, interim Chair of the United Muslim Organisation, said: “When Georgie contacted me to ask for help to provide gifts for the young children whose mother is in the care of Goscote Hospice we were more than happy to make this as normal an Eid for this family as possible.
“Great support and gifts came from the Specsavers branch in Bloxwich and UKIM Icare at short notice and were greatly appreciated.”
“Sabba Arif, Director of Specsavers Bloxwich and Shabir Hussain of UKIM Icare jointly said that they were sad to learn of the mum’s condition and wanted to make this Eid a special one for the family. We extend our best wishes and prayers to the family.”
On behalf of the hospice, Clinical Sister Bethany Speake was happy to accept the donations and thanked everyone involved for their generosity.
Appreciating people’s kindness this #DyingMatters Week