FEW people have as broad a knowledge of East Lancashire Hospice as Gill Leacy.

The 67-year-old has had three experiences of the charity – as the wife of a patient, as a volunteer, and as a trustee.

Gill’s husband Bernard Leacy died in the hospice 14 year ago.

And now she has urged people to support the Lancashire Telegraph’s Raise the Roof appeal, which aims to raise £125,000 to build a new roof over the hospice’s inpatients unit.

She said: “When you or somebody in your family need our care you realise the value of the hospice.

“It’s a place of hope, peace, love and support for patients and their families, 24-7, as long as you need it.”

A senior lecturer at Nelson and Colne College, Bernard spent about a month in the inpatients unit in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, as he fought lung cancer.

Gill, a former nursery teacher in Hyndburn, Bacup and Rossendale, said: “Bernard had his 53rd birthday in here.

“He was six foot tall, over 13 stone, a very strong man.

“But within four months that really changed.

“Nothing can prepare you for the diagnosis of cancer, no matter how strong you think you are.

“The person who has been your rock has suddenly become so ill that you have to become a nurse.

“I just can’t think of a word to describe it. It’s just awful.”

When her husband died, Gill pledged to get involved with the work of the hospice.

Following her retirement she became a volunteer, a role she has performed for the past 11 years.

“I remember coming here and someone saying ‘just learn to say no, because you get drawn into all sorts of things’!

“After Bernard died I came to see the bereavement group once a month on a Monday night.

“Since then I’ve done bereavement support work.

“You can do courses as a volunteer, and that was a reversal of roles which was very interesting and very therapeutic for me.

“I drive patients, I bring them into day therapy and home again, and I used to take them to Preston for radiotherapy, and take relatives to the hospice as well.

“I also work at the hospice shop in Clitheroe. Whatever they wanted me to do I was there to help.”

In 2004 Gill became a trustee of the charity.

She said: “We meet once a month.

“There are people from all different types of backgrounds, finance, education and nursing.”

“The board of trustees is there basically to make sure money that is given and donated to the hospice is spent wisely and appropriately.”

Gill has seen the care the hospice provides evolve down the years, with more of a focus now on ‘the hospice at home’.

“Now we have a hospice at home service where staff will go out and stay at people’s homes overnight.

“It allows the carer to have a complete break, even if it’s just to get a good night’s sleep themselves.

“I say it’s like you’re on a tightrope, but there is a safety net and that is the hospice. They will catch you.

“Even if it’s just somebody you can ring who will say ‘it’s okay love, don’t worry about it’.”

“A lot of patients who come in here say to me ‘I just feel a huge weight off my shoulders. They feel relaxed and the carers do as well, believe you me.

“When Bernard came here I just thought ‘this is wonderful, thank goodness he is safe’.”

How to donate

  • By text - Send ROOF to 70700. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. East Lancashire Hospice receives at least £4.45. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 08448479800.

    Charity No 1075653.

  • Online - At eastlancshospice.org.uk/roof-appeal. Remember to add the word ‘roof’ in the comments section so it is clear the donation is for this appeal.
  • At a bank - Make a payment at any Yorkshire Bank, Account No 22741541, Sort Code 05-02-52. Locally there are branches in Accrington, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Clitheroe, Colne, Nelson and Todmorden.
  • By post - Send a cheque to Roof Appeal, East Lancashire Hospice, Park Lee Road, Blackburn, BB2 3NY.
  • By phone - Pay by debit or credit card by ringing 01254 733410.

If surplus funds are raised they will be used for the general purposes of the charity.

Click on the link below for more information on the Raise The Roof campaign.