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Meet the fundraiser: Tony Jules, fundraising from his hospice bed

Howard Lake | 13 January 2016 | Blogs

Tony Jules has spent the past six months fundraising from his bed at Keech Hospice Care in Luton, with the aim of raising £40,000 to fund a nurse to work at the hospice for a year.

Suffering from terminal prostate cancer, the 63-year-old has made it his final wish to “pay for an angel”.

On his JustGiving page he wrote:

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“I knew little could be done, but I want to continue to help my community, as I have done all my life”.

He added:

“People find it strange when I say, I am so lucky to be here. The positive spirit at Keech is amazing – you can’t see it, but you can feel it”.

His fundraising activities have included selling a CD, made with the hospice’s music therapist and one of the nursing team; joining in a Calypso fundraising event via Skype; and inspiring staff at an insurance company to secure a company donation.

He has also inspired individuals to join his team page on JustGiving – events include an abseil at the Olympic Park in London and a group walking the ‘Star Walk’.

A feature on his fundraising on BBC TV Look East resulted in an anonymous donation of £5,000.

Reaching his target

Jules discovered that he had reached his target when nurses and hospice staff gathered round his bed to let him know the good news. He couldn’t quite believe it at first.


Indeed, his total has now increased to over £44,000.

Jules said afterwards:

“I am more tired now than when I first set about getting my angel. My body is letting me down but my spirit is still very much shining on.


“I pray it’s not the case, but if others are ever unfortunate enough to find themselves in a similar position to myself, I hope they’re fortunate enough to have the excellent care and support me and my whole family continue to receive. It makes me happy knowing others, and their families, will benefit from my angel”.
 

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