For Johnny, 64, and Michele, 57, including a gift in their Will to Tŷ Hafan was a simple choice. Both have spent their working lives supporting children and families — Johnny in youth services and education support, Michele in schools as a teaching assistant for children with additional needs.
Johnny tells us, “My mum always supported Tŷ Hafan. She used to say she could see where the money was going and what a difference it made – and that’s important to us too.”
His journey with Tŷ Hafan began when he ran the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds for the hospice, leading to a visit to the hospice and a lasting impression. “Seeing the support for local families up close really hit home. I’ve been fundraising ever since – Barry 10ks, and this year I’m doing the Porthcawl 10k!” The couple also play the Tŷ Hafan Lottery, continuing the tradition started by Johnny’s mum.
Michele’s connection with the hospice grew through volunteering. “I started in one of the Tŷ Hafan shops, then helped with admin and even making crafts to sell. One year, I wrote and performed a Christmas thank-you song for all the volunteers to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’ – it was a fun challenge!”
Both Johnny and Michele knew they wanted their support for Tŷ Hafan to carry on into the future. Johnny explains, “When Michele’s mum died without a Will, it was a real struggle. That pushed us to write ours, and the first thing we decided was to leave a gift to Tŷ Hafan.”
They used Tŷ Hafan’s Free Will Writing Service, and the decision gave them peace of mind. “It’s a way to keep doing what we’ve always done — supporting children and families when they need it most,” Michele adds.
A touching moment in their journey came when they met a local family connected to Tŷ Hafan. Though they didn’t get to meet the child, Michele found a creative way to honour his memory — leaving knitted mini sharks in public places as a quiet tribute, spreading awareness and kindness in his name.
Johnny reflects, “Meeting that family made everything we’ve done feel even more personal. If Tŷ Hafan weren’t here, where would they go? That’s why we want to keep supporting — even after we’re gone.”
Leaving a gift in your Will for Tŷ Hafan
You too can create precious moments
To find out more about including a gift in your Will to Tŷ Hafan, or to use our Free Will Writing Service, visit https://www.tyhafan.org/gift-in-a-will or call 029 20 532255.
Thank you for considering giving in this special way.