A GENEROUS Droitwich woman has donated £100,000 to Acorns Children’s Hospice after the charity sent out an urgent fundraising appeal.
Erica Brown, who worked for the charity up until 2009, donated the staggering amount to help save the Acorn Hospice in Walsall, which faces closure.
The ‘Save our Black Country Hospice’ appeal has until March 2020 to raise £2million.
The kind-hearted donor visited the Walsall hospice on Tuesday, August 6 to officially hand over the gift to staff and volunteers.
“Having worked for Acorns I know personally how much support the charity gives to children and families,” said the 69-year-old who donated the cash from an inheritance.
“Acorns is a lifeline for all of them, whether it’s support at home, in the community or in the hospice itself.
“The charity not only enables children to have a ‘good death’ at the end of their lives, but also continues to support families afterwards.”
Heart-warming: Generous Erica (far right) with staff, volunteers and children at the hospice.
Erica became a bereaved parent herself when she lost her twins Jonathan and Juliet, who both died in 1973.
From that moment onward the primary school teacher dedicated her life to working for children with life threatening conditions.
After various roles in special needs education, she joined Acorns as head of research in 1999.
The Hadzor resident added: “Although I’ve continued to support Acorns and work for them in various ways over the years, I’ve never been able to feel that I’ve made a real difference like I can now.
“Supporting this appeal enables me to do something that I would never have been able to do if my parents hadn’t left me a legacy.
“They worked hard all their lives and were very careful with their money.
“It’s thanks to them that I’ve been able to do this, and I know they would give me their blessing.”
Acorns’ chief executive Toby Porter said the money was a significant step in the right direction to securing the long term future of the Walsall Hospice, which is used by thousands of families across the Black Country.
“We are truly overwhelmed by Erica’s incredible generosity towards us.
“This donation reflects how much she understands the true impact organisations like Acorns have to those who need us.
“On behalf of all the staff, volunteers, children, young people and families at Acorns – a huge heartfelt thank you to Erica.
“Her legacy will be felt here for many years to come.”
It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns’ services.
The charity relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.
You can donate towards the appeal by visiting www.acrons.org.uk/appeal
