After experiencing exceptional care in hospital during lockdown, Raymond decided to change his Will to include a generous donation of £50k to Cavell.

Raymond Haxby lived to a great age of 103 and enjoyed good health throughout most of his life. During the 2020 lockdown, Raymond moved in with his son, Julian, and his family, though until then he had been living independently. It was during this time that Raymond experienced bouts of illness and would stay in hospital on a few occasions. Julian said, “Dad was immensely touched by the care that he received. Being in hospital was unfamiliar to him, but he was very appreciative of the nurses who looked after him, and he wanted to do something to give back.”

Julian recalls his father’s words: “Dad said ‘I want to give some money to help the nurses.’ He knew that nurses have a difficult job and a lot of them suffer financial hardship, and so he asked me to help him change his Will.” When researching charities, Julian came across Cavell, which seemed to tick all the boxes in Raymond’s eyes.

“My father had a very positive outlook on life and tended to see the best in people,” said Julian. “After his hospital stay, it was clear that he had formed a real connection with the nurses. He realised that things were particularly difficult for them during the pandemic, and I think that’s why he was so appreciative. He wanted to help them as his final gift.”

Raymond had initially intended to donate to another charity up until his experience in hospital, which demonstrates just how big an impact the nurses made. Raymond called the nurses his friends, and Julian said “it was very touching. I was very glad that my dad decided to donate to Cavell because I became acutely aware of the incredible pressure placed on hospital staff during my father’s care, and I knew they were really suffering, so I thought it was great that my dad decided to do something to help them.”

The impact of supporting Cavell

Cavell couldn’t provide the support that it does today without you…

Thanks to kind donations from fundraisers and donors like Raymond, Cavell can continue to give support when the nursing and midwifery family are suffering a personal crisis or financial hardship, often due to illness, complications from a disability, poverty in older age, domestic abuse, and the impact of the ongoing cost-of living crisis.

In 2022, the Cavell Support team saw a 200% rise in those seeking help from the charity compared to the previous year. And in the first six months of 2023, there has been an additional 35% increase in nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants seeking help, compared to the same time last year, so demand remains very high.

Despite this increase, Cavell continues to make life-changing impact for the nursing and midwifery family. 93% of those who were working at the time of Cavell’s support in the first six months of 2023 said it positively affected their ability to do their job.

The impact is felt by nurses like Kristine, who sought Cavell’s support after a horrific attack, and she said, “I felt that I got the support that I needed at a difficult time in my life. I can’t express in enough words how much Cavell helped us.” You can read Kristine’s full story here.

Currently, just 6% of people leave a gift to charity in their Will. When you choose to leave a legacy in your Will for Cavell, you support those who made an impact in your life from your very first breath until your last. If you feel inspired to leave your gift to Cavell, click here.