Phyllis Tuckwell’s annual Make a Will Fortnight has once again proved popular in prompting local residents into making their Will, an important but often overlooked aspect of modern life.

During Make a Will Fortnight (14th -27th September 2015) twelve local solicitor firms across Phyllis Tuckwell’s catchment area waived their normal Will writing fee for the preparation of a basic or standard Will, in return for a suggested donation to the local Hospice Care charity. And this year the amount raised was almost double that of last year, hitting a fantastic £10k! This made 2015’s Make a Will Fortnight the most successful to date, for which Phyllis Tuckwell would like to thank both the solicitors firms involved and all those who took part in the initiative.

As well as these donations, it was hoped that some of those writing their Wills would choose to leave a legacy to Phyllis Tuckwell, which provides supportive and end of life care to patients and families facing cancer, or another serious progressive illness, across West Surrey and North East Hampshire. Apart from helping fund the charity’s care, legacies are also a very tax-efficient way of giving, as they are exempt from Inheritance Tax.

To thank the local solicitors who kindly took part in this event, and to show them how the money raised would benefit patients and relatives at Phyllis Tuckwell, the charity invited the firms to the Hospice on Wednesday 2nd December. After an introduction from the charity’s Chief Executive, Sarah Brocklebank, those present were shown a short video of another of the charity’s fundraising events – Dash of Colour – after which lunch was provided.

“We would like to thank all of the firms who chose to support Phyllis Tuckwell during Make a Will Fortnight,” said Anna Coassin, Individual Giving Manager at the Hospice Care charity. “Every day we support over 250 patients and relatives, and the care we provide is given free of charge, but as the NHS/Government only covers 20% of our costs, we have to raise over £15,000 a day to be able to do this. As legacies fund over 20% of our patient care, they are hugely important to us, and so we would like to thank everyone who took part in Make a Will Fortnight and all of those who have so kindly chosen to leave a gift to Phyllis Tuckwell in their Will.”

The firms who took part in Make a Will Fortnight were: Hart Brown, Bates, Woodford Stauffer, Downs LLP, Barringtons, Hadfields Butt & Bowyer, Herrington & Carmichael, Pinto Potts, Morrisons, Neale Turk Rochfort, Potter Owtram & Peck and RHW LLP.

Also present for the event were law firm Stevens & Bolton, who have chosen Phyllis Tuckwell as their Charity of the Year and whom Phyllis Tuckwell wanted to take the opportunity to thank.

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Notes for Editors:
For press enquiries and alternative pictures contact: Jen Barnes at Phyllis Tuckwell on 01252 729433 or email jen.barnes@pth.org.uk