Remembering Annette Drake, and her passion for supporting Weldmar Hospicecare

When Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust decided that they would back our Securing Tomorrow’s Care appeal with a very generous donation of £25,000, we wanted to speak to founder Annette Drake to find out why helping to create our new Outpatient Suite was so important to them.

Annette had been a loyal supporter ever since Weldmar provided care for her son Andrew, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 24. The Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust was set to – among other things – provide funding for much needed equipment that would help those with a life limiting illness, and a number of donations were made to Weldmar over the years.

When we spoke to Annette about the latest donation, she was in the care of Weldmar Hospicecare herself. Annette was attending weekly Wellbeing Support Sessions, and had spent time at the Inpatient Unit. She spoke very highly of this care, and why it was important to back the appeal to fund equipment in the Outpatient Suite, which will house the Wellbeing Support Sessions, and offer more counselling spaces, new complementary therapy suites, and physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessment rooms.

Very sadly, Annette died just a few days later, at our Inpatient Unit in Dorchester – a place she had visited many times and supported with so much enthusiasm. As she was so passionate about Weldmar, we wanted to share her words with you.