Thanks to the support of solicitor firms across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire, a total of £25,000 has been donated to the Forever Friends Appeal, the fundraising charity of the Royal United Hospital.
The amount was achieved by the generosity of 11 solicitor firms who waived their will writing fees during the annual RUH Will Month scheme, giving people the opportunity to have a will drawn up professionally at a reduced cost.
Jan Witt, In Memory and Legacy Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal said: “We are very appreciative of the generous support and commitment given to us by the solicitors who work extremely hard drawing up hundreds of wills between them and providing this service free throughout September.
“The majority of the funds raised from last year’s will month were donated towards the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre that is being built close to the RUH main entrance.
“It’s fantastic to receive the public’s support for this important build as around 25,000 patients per year are reliant on our therapies services, and we are now calling on the public to help us to the finish line and raise the last £100,000 of the £2m fundraising target.”
One of the committed participants who takes part in the annual RUH Will Month scheme, Partner, Ruth Coles, Wards Solicitors said: “We are very proud to give our support each year towards this great fundraising initiative for our local hospital and offer our specialist service.
“Not only does this annual scheme raise awareness of the importance of making a will and acts as a reminder to the general public to get their affairs in order to give them peace of mind.
“But, Wards Solicitors are also supporting a worthy charity that not only benefits our local community in general, but also our staff and clients who have or may need to use the services of the RUH in the future.
“By taking part in RUH Will Month, we have also met and worked alongside other solicitor firms and together, we have been able to see first-hand how our support is helping the hospital.
“We recently had a tour of the construction build of the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre which was a different experience for me. I am looking forward to seeing the finished building and see for ourselves what a difference our support, together with our clients has helped to achieve.”
Jan continued: “I have had the pleasure of working very closely with a large number of local solicitor firms over the years and I am always astounded each year the level of support and hard work they give, together with the public who take up the offer of the scheme.
“Everyone has played a vital part in supporting various medial projects over the years enabling the RUH to continue to provide the very best level of acute care for the 500,000 people it serves.
“We are extremely humbled to each and every one of them.”
The RUH Will month scheme will run again this September as part of the charity’s calendar of events in marking its 20th anniversary.
The cost of having a single standard will written is £100, or standard Mirror Wills or joint wills will be £150. Details of the solicitor firms taking part this year are to be announced this summer.