A COUPLE from Ashford near Barnstaple have pledged an extraordinary gift to North Devon Hospice.

They have decided to leave their home and contents to the charity so that it can continue to care for people for years to come.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, have long been associated with the charity.

And they have agreed to tell their story as part of the hospice's first "Make a Will Month" in conjunction with the Journal.

She said: "I have been involved with the hospice for years since my mother and father were volunteers back in the mid-80s.

"As time passed, I took on the mantle of fundraising for them as often as I could within my own community.

"We have organised all sorts of events from coffee mornings and music evenings to suppers and garden parties."

She added: "I must admit, we put off making a will for quite a while, because it's not something that you like to think about.

"But it is something that everybody should do, and when it came to deciding who we would like to leave our house to, it was a really simple decision.

"So many local people need the support of the hospice, and we hope that our gift can help them continue providing their excellent care in the future.

"I have known many friends from the village who have been cared for by the hospice, and that brings home the importance of their work.

"Everything they do is free of charge, and they look after the patient and their family when they need it most."

Ali Hunt, head of fundraising at the hospice, described the couple's pledge as simply amazing.

"We are truly humbled by their commitment, not just in leaving their house to the hospice, but also in the many different ways they currently support us," she said.

"It is gifts like this that mean the hospice can plan for the future and ensure we are still here to care for local people who are suffering from the impact of a life-threatening illness."

There are ten local solicitors taking part in "Make a Will Month."

For every will they draw up during October they will make a donation to North Devon Hospice.

Ali said: "There is no obligation to leave a gift to the hospice when you are writing your will.

"However, if you do decide to remember us with a gift, whether large or small, you will be helping to secure the future of the hospice.

"Your gift could be as much as a house, or it could be a sum of money or a specific item. Whatever you can pledge will make a real difference."

Ali said that gifts left in people's wills were essential to keeping the hospice running.

They now make up the single biggest income stream for this much-loved local charity.

She continued: "We need to raise more than £3m a year to provide our specialist care, and last year nearly half a million pounds was donated to the hospice through gifts in people's wills.

"This is an amazing show of support from our local community, and makes an enormous difference to the lives of patients and families in our care.

"All our care and support is provided completely free of charge, and all of this is made possible by the generous gifts being left to the hospice in people's wills."

North Devon Hospice cares for more than 100 people every day who are suffering with the impact of a life-threatening illness.

Their care includes specialist community nursing, day hospice, in-patient care, complementary therapies and emotional and spiritual support for the whole family.

For more information about the types of gift you could pledge to North Devon Hospice call Ali on 01271 347206.