£40,000 legacy will help Derbyshire hospice continue with end of life care

The generous legacy was left to Treetops Hospice Care by Margaret Futer, from Long Eaton, who died in June last year aged 84.

Treetops, based in Risley, Derbyshire, provides emotional support and nursing care for adults with life limiting conditions, those who’ve been bereaved, and their families. Last year the hospice supported more than 1,800 adults with life-limiting conditions living in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

An only child with no children of her own, Margaret moved to Long Eaton to care for her father when he became ill, staying on after he died and his house was gifted to her.

Margaret’s close friend and Treetops volunteer Janet Hulse, 72, said: “Margaret was an engineering designer during her working life, she loved amateur dramatics and loved nature. She was very shy and timid, but a strong-minded lady and was so important in my life for several years. Margaret had early onset Alzheimer’s so her husband became her carer and occasionally he’d come and ask me to help with more personal care. He passed away, so I took over the reins for over three years.

“I arranged some more carers and helped too but when she became really, really poorly, I couldn’t cope.

“Margaret went into a nursing home for professional care and we spent many happy hours in her room talking and watching the television. We talked about Treetops and what I do here as a volunteer.

“Her cousin encouraged her to make arrangements for the future such as her funeral, her will and power of attorney, which she did.

“She left £40,000 to Treetops and other gifts to several other small, local groups and charities - she would be so pleased to know she has helped so many.”

Margaret’s legacy will go towards the Treetops Hospice at Home service, providing nurses to care for patients at the end of life in their own homes.

Julie Walker, trusts and in-memory fundraiser, said: “We’re so grateful to Margaret for her generous legacy to the charity. It means we can continue to offer many more hours of nursing careand invaluable support for their carers in their darkest times.”