Kind gesture leads to Thetford man donating hundreds to St Nicholas Hospice Care
Brian Watson alongside St Nicholas Hospice Care community fundraiser Miranda McCoy. Picture: St Nicholas Hospice Care - Credit: Archant
A kind gesture and a stroke of luck has led a Norfolk man to donate hundreds of pounds to a hospice.
Brian Watson, who lives in Thetford, made a donation of £400 when he recently visited St Nicholas Hospice Care in Bury St Edmunds.
But there is a nice story surrounding the donation.
“The day after Boxing Day a Christmas card arrived and inside it was a letter from a family friend,” said Mr Watson.
“She explained that my father, who had died 12 years ago, kindly gifted her some money, and she had always wanted to return it when she was able to do so.”
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Mr Watson’s father George had kindly gifted £200 to the woman, who now lives in Switzerland, to buy her first digital camera.
He added: “Although in the letter she makes it clear she didn’t want to accept the money, she says she only did so because my father insisted and said he was going to send the cheque anyway.”
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After making the donation at the hospice Mr Watson decided to buy a scratch card.
Luck was on his side as he won a number of small prizes, which amounted to a further £200.
“I decided that I wanted the money to go to the hospice,” he said. “My mother-in-law was cared for by the hospice so it was my way of being able to give something back. To say thank you for what they did for her.”
The hospice, which cares for people across west Suffolk and Thetford with long-term and life-threatening illnesses, will be able to use the money to continue funding the services it runs from both its hospice site in Bury St Edmunds and out in the community.
Miranda McCoy, a hospice community fundraiser, said: “It was lovely to welcome Brian to the hospice when he visited us.
“When he told me the story behind his donation I was very touched not only by his friend’s determination to return the original £200 Brian’s father had kindly gifted her, but also his generous decision to re-gift the funds, plus the further £200 he had won on the lottery to the hospice.
“Thank you to all for your kindness and support.”
The charity has to raise £11,000 every day through the generosity of the local community and fundraisin.
For more information on St Nicholas Hospice Care and its services visit the website.
