A North Derbyshire solicitor has raised thousands of pounds after offering its customers free wills in return for a donation to Ashgate Hospice. 

BRM Solicitors in Chesterfield has broken its own fundraising record and raised more than £23,000 towards care for palliative and end of life patients.  

The solicitor encouraged local people to make a will and instead of paying a fee to the solicitors, they were urged to make a donation to the hospice.  

During Make a Will Month, which took place in April, a total of 175 people made their will with BRM while making a suggested donation of £75 for a single will or £150 for a mirror will for a couple. 

Jack Wood, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice said: “We are incredibly grateful to BRM Solicitors for choosing Ashgate Hospice to benefit from its Make a Will Month campaign.  

“To have raised a record-breaking amount of donations is just incredible and it will go such a long way towards helping the families who need us most. 

“We must also thank the unbelievable generosity of the customers who decided to make their will in return for a donation towards the funding of our care. 

“Everyone at the hospice is overwhelmed by the support and thanks must also go to the wonderful staff at BRM for making this happen. We’re looking forward to working with BRM again next year!” 

The total amount raised by BRM Solicitors was £23,495, which is the largest amount the firm have raised for any charity in a single month. 

The donation could help pay for one of the hospice’s community workers to make almost 500 visits to a patient in their own home.  

Rob Woodhead, Head of Wills and Probate at BRM Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Ashgate Hospice again this year to raise funds for a charity that plays such a key role in the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire community. We hope to build on this year’s success and raise even more money for the hospice in 2023.”

Ashgate Hospice must raise £8 million over and above NHS funding in order to fund its services for patients in their own homes and at its site in Old Brampton. 

Meanwhile, one in five people are cared for thanks to money left in wills, but as the number of people with life-limiting illnesses increases, demand for the services continues to grow.   

Find out more about how you can leave Ashgate Hospice a gift in your will.