The late couple Rosina and Geoff Eastwick from Rayleigh gifted £28,000 from their estate to Little Havens, the hospice which cares for their grandson Archie. The only children’s hospice located in Essex, Little Havens provides palliative nursing and supportive care to children, young people and their families at either the hospice in Thundersley or within the home.

Rosina Eastwick died last year, aged 84. She spent her life in Essex both raising her family and working, most recently in Gades, a local wool shop.  Her husband Geoff, a career electrician with Ford died seven years ago, aged 83.

The couple had a long-standing relationship with Havens Hospices and have always been supportive of the charity. They knew the original founder of Fair Havens, Daphne Hall through their church, Eastwood Baptist. When Little Havens was in the initial phases of development they became more engaged through another church connection, who went on to become the hospice’s Head of Care. However, they never realised the true personal significance Little Havens would have until their grandson, Archie Turner, started using the hospice.

Now 18, Archie began visiting Little Havens around the age of 1 shortly after he was diagnosed with a type of Muscular Dystrophy. Rosina and Geoff, or Nan and Grandpa as Archie called them, would often visit him during his stays at the hospice in Thundersley. Their daughter Rachel, Archie’s Mum says, “Mum was very proud of her connections to Havens Hospices. When she worked in the local wool shop, she’d encourage people to put their loose change into a Little Havens collection pot at the till.”

After Rosina’s passing her children Graham, Ruthie, David and Rachel finalised their parents’ estate and enacted their wishes. Graham said: “The gifts to both Eastwood Baptist Church and Little Havens reflect the significant part each played in their lives and our family story. We hope the donation of £28,000 in our parent’s memory will help Little Havens with all the wonderful work they do.”

Archie continues to receive support from Havens Hospices, mainly in the home through the Children and Young People’s Community Team.

During Children’s Hospice Week (21st-25th June), the local charity Havens Hospices, of which Little Havens is a part of, hopes to raise awareness of the importance of people’s Gifts in Wills so they can continue to provide their specialist hospice care to future generations of children and young people living with complex or incurable conditions across Essex.

Emma Hamilton, Legacy and In Memory Fundraiser at Havens Hospices said: “Last year legacies helped pay for the care of one in three patients across Havens Hospices and that’s all thanks to generous people like Rosina and Geoff who leave gifts in their Wills to local causes that are important to them.

“When supporters pledge to leave a gift in their Will, they will be leaving a lasting legacy – helping us provide vital life support for future generations. Havens Hospices’ Wills All Year Around campaign sees local solicitors give their time and expertise for free in exchange for a donation to the charity. The suggested donations are £90 for an individual Will, £150 for a pair of Mirror Wills or £50 for a for a codicil. For those who did want to kindly consider leaving a gift in their Will to Little Havens, the charity and our partner solicitors are here to support you with any questions you may have. Every gift means we can continue to care for those who need us in years to come, ‘Making every day count’.”

Visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/wills for a list of participating local solicitors or call Emma on 01702 220308 or more information.

To support Little Havens, Essex’s only children’s hospice this Children’s Hospice Week with a one-off donation of any size please visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/childrenshospiceweek