Grandmother volunteers at hospice shop to say thanks

A woman who volunteers at a hospice charity shop says it is "her way of saying thank you" following the death of her granddaughter.

Hazel Brown has been lending a hand at the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) shop in Ely since October 2018, six months after her granddaughter Lucy died at the age of 12.

The 75-year-old volunteers every Monday and Thursday morning and says the role has become an important part of her life.

"We still miss our little girl terribly, and that's why I'm here to this day. It's my way of saying thank you," she added.

EACH run three hospices across the East of England, at Milton in Cambridgeshire, Ipswich in Suffolk and Framingham Earl in Norfolk.

Lucy received care and support at the Milton hospice from the age of two after she was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), a severe form of epilepsy that develops in childhood.

"The team were also there for us when it came to end-of-life care," her grandmother said.

"Lucy spent three weeks at the hospice, and we were able to have lots of precious time together, including with members of our wider family."

The EACH shop in Ely opened in October 2018, with Lucy's twin brother Liam, who is now 20, cutting its ribbon after raising £23,500 for the charity.

Brown said: "This is my way of giving back all the help that they gave us... I wanted to raise more funds by being here.

"We are doing what they did for us, for families in the future."

Brown said her favourite part of volunteering was working on the till as she enjoyed "talking to customers".

"It's a big part of my life," she added.

Sue Mitson, EACH relief shop and cluster manager, said: "Hazel has been part of the Ely shop team since day one and is a wonderful example of the difference volunteers make."

She said the charity was looking for more volunteers to join so it could "continue providing vital care and support for children, young people and families across East Anglia".

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