A fantastic party night organised by tribute fund holder Dr Peter Green has raised an incredible £1765 for Bolton Hospice, in memory of Peter's wife Jackie Green.

Two days before Dr Peter Green’s wife Jackie Green sadly died in 2019, the couple discussed the idea of setting up ‘The Jackie Green Tribute Fund’ to raise funds for the hospice with the original goal of raising £1,000.

Now 3 years later the Tribute Fund today stands at over £17,000!

Dr Peter Green shares his touching hospice story and how his family are keeping Jackie’s loving memory alive with their very own Tribute Fund and online page.

“On 14th November 2019 my daughter Claire and I were at our Church helping to prepare for our Christmas Market. My wife Jackie arrived and Claire immediately noticed her skin looked yellow. Although she felt ok I took her into the Emergency Unit at Chorley Hospital.

They kept her in overnight carrying out various tests and the following day a junior doctor informed her she had terminal Pancreatic Cancer, which was a bombshell.

Jackie underwent surgery to try to relieve the blockage caused by the tumour, however she quickly deteriorated, so much so that she was not well enough to attend her mother’s burial, who had just passed away at 99 years old. Heartbreakingly Jackie continued to deteriorate over the next two weeks and it became apparent that nothing could be done. My daughter, Bev, had been in touch with Bolton Hospice and we asked Jackie whether she would prefer to stay in Preston Hospital or be transferred to Bolton Hospice. She immediately said Bolton Hospice with which I fully agreed.

Although the doctors warned us that she may not survive the journey, arrangements were made and Jackie travelled to the hospice, accompanied by my daughters and I - she arrived at Bolton Hospice in excellent humour.

From the moment we arrived, Jackie, and all of us, received the ultimate in care and attention; from the Senior Consultants through to the volunteers and cleaners. The nursing staff were wonderful, nothing was too much trouble. Everyone offered care and support to us all, not just Jackie. It is truly a wondrous place… everyone was superb.

I was having a coffee in the reception area one day and struck up a conversation with a member of the fundraising team, discussing ways to support the hospice in its work. One of the things was the setting up of a Tribute Fund which could then run continuously with regular events. In one of Jackie’s conscious breaks the girls left us to talk and I discussed with her what the Tribute Funds were and how they worked. As she had always been a supporter of Bolton Hospice she immediately agreed and we should set the first event as our Wedding Anniversary, which was four days away.

It was so easy to set up I went in to the lounge area with my iPad and set it up there and then. At this time Jackie was deteriorating quickly and in another of her conscious moments later that day, we were talking and I said to her, “You’re waiting for our Wedding Anniversary aren’t you?” With a great big smile she said “yes” and nodded twice.

This all happened on Monday the 16th December. I always will remember it so vividly. On Thursday the 19th, our Wedding Anniversary, the hospice laid on such a wonderful buffet complete with anniversary cake, drinks and flowers. It was fantastic. However later that evening, true to her word, she passed away peacefully with our daughter Karen at her bedside. We all then returned to see her and spend our final moments with her, helped superbly by the hospice staff."

Beverley, Jackie and Peter’s daughter shared, "For me the idea of Mum’s Tribute Fund was the sense of giving something back to Bolton Hospice, but at the same time keeping Mum’s memory alive. The hospice staff not only cared for Mum as the patient but all of us as her immediate family too. The thought of other families being able to benefit from their care in their most difficult time gives all of us an incentive to help raise funds to enable Bolton Hospice to continue its wonderful work. I know that Mum would be chuffed to bits to have the Tribute Fund helping others to be supported along their journeys."

If you would like more information about setting up a Tribute Fund in memory of your loved one, please click here