A FAMILY have shown plenty of Christmas goodwill by helping raise thousands of pounds in memory of their relative who died of cancer.

Vivien Cox died at East Lancashire Hospice, aged 57, in November 2017 after bravely battling pancreatic cancer.

She spent the last three days of her life at the hospice having been diagnosed with the cancer in February last year.

Now her niece Amanda Hall and daughter Rebecca Cox have with the help of work colleagues at Houldsworth Solicitors helped raise £6,000 for the hospice.

Clitheroe-based Houldsworth were one of five firms of solicitors who agreed to waive their will-writing fee in exchange for donations to the hospice, in support of the annual Will Week.

Houldsworth have joined Roebucks Solicitors, Watson Ramsbottom, Forbes Solicitors and Quality Solicitors Acklam Bond for the first time this year.

Vivien’s niece Amanda, director of Houldsworth, said the team decided to support this year’s Will Week in memory of her aunt.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Firm has raised an incredible £6,000 in their recent make a will week in conjunction with the East Lancs Hospice.

"I am so pleased with the amount we have raised for such an amazing cause.

“We had a fantastic response and I would like to thank our probate and wills legal executive Catherine Barrett who worked so hard in getting all the wills prepared and also thank our clients who made a will for such an important local charity.

Amanda described the care at the hospice, which cares for people suffering from life-limiting illnesses throughout Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Clitheroe, as amazing.

She added: “I am sure that my Auntie Viv would have been very proud of the amount we have raised and I’m sure that this money will make a difference.

“Writing a will is something people put out of the mind – but people don’t realise how much stress it can cause to their loved ones if you don’t have one. People don’t want to think about what may happen – but you never know what is around the corner.”

East Lancashire Hospice fundraising manager Sharon Crymble thanked the solicitors for the donation.

She said: “We hear all the time how important it is to make a will and make your wishes known, and we are very grateful to the solicitors who give their time freely each year to take part in the hospice Will Week that prompts people to put their affairs in order in this way and also raise funds towards helping us to care for our patients.’

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Houldsworth Solicitors for all their hard work and effort in completing 38 wills and raising an amazing £6,000.

“This is an outstanding amount that really did give the hospice an early Christmas present that will certainly benefit our patients, and for that we are extremely thankful.”

To register for next year's Will Week, people can email Sharon.crymble@eastlancshospice.org.uk and mark the subject line ‘Will Week’.