Hedwig lost her mother-in-law, Margaret, in 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many friends and family were unable to attend her funeral – but funds in memory gave them a place to remember their loved one.
Margaret was a truly special person
"Margaret was full of life, kind-hearted and generous to the very end," Hedwig said of Margaret. "All of us who knew her were amazed by her energy and wicked sense of humour. Age nor secondary breast cancer, nor anything else could take away her spirit. A truly special person we will miss very much."
Hedwig was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, by which time Margaret had already had breast cancer twice. This created a stronger bond between them.
She wanted others to support Breast Cancer Now
Although a keen gardener, Margaret had said that sending flowers to her funeral was a waste. Instead, she wanted to raise money for Breast Cancer Now: the place she received support. Hedwig knew this was the right thing to do and, with help from the In Memory team via email and phone, was able to set up a fund in memory of Margaret in just a couple of simple steps.
Hedwig understood why Margaret was eager to support Breast Cancer Now, as she had also been receiving her own support and wanted to ensure others could have access to the same life-changing information and services.
"For me, having access to reliable information written clearly was the most important thing that helped me to face my diagnosis," she said.
It doesn’t matter how much money you raise
At first, Hedwig and her family were hesitant to set up a fund in memory of Margaret, as they didn’t know how much they would be able to raise and weren’t planning on organising any large fundraising events.
After speaking to the In Memory team who assured her of the wide range of people setting up funds, Hedwig realised it was the best solution. No matter how much you raise, having your own space to grieve and remember your loved one is important.
"Raising money for Breast Cancer Now is a way to give something back, at the same time also a way to help move forward beyond your own treatment and the loss of a loved one," Hedwig explained.
Funds in memory are a lovely way of cherishing someone
With the COVID-19 restrictions still in place, many friends and family were unfortunately not able to attend the funeral. Margaret’s fund in memory became the perfect place for people to still meet, share cherished memories of Margaret and donate in her memory - which is exactly what Margaret would have wanted.
"If you see a cancer diagnosis and treatment as a journey, then Breast Cancer Now provided the roadmap for me," Hedwig said. "I’m very glad we’ve got Margaret’s memory fund to support Breast Cancer Now so they can continue to support people like me and people like Margaret."
Fund in memory
If you would like to remember a loved one and support Breast Cancer Now, it's easy to set up your own fund in memory.