16/06/2026
“Allison was not only a sister-in-law, she was my best friend."
Anne was inspired to volunteer after her best friend and sister-in-law Allison was cared for by Birmingham Hospice.
After meeting in school, their friendship quickly grew. “She met my brother through me,” recalls Anne, “so it was an added bonus that she ended up being my sister-in-law.”
Allison was a Staff Sister and ran the COVID-19 ward at Heartlands Hospital. Describing her caring nature, Anne said: “She was like Mother Earth - she was just built to be a nurse, she scooped people up and looked after everyone."
In 2022, Allison became ill and was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. She wanted to be cared for a hospice when her time came.
Anne remembers: “She was so well cared for at Birmingham Hospice - she felt like it was her own family caring for her.
"It was lovely that she was more herself during those final weeks and could spend precious time with her husband and daughters.”
Since Allison’s death, Anne has supported Birmingham Hospice in various ways. Explaining why she signed up to volunteer at Big Brum Bucket this July, Anne said: “Family life is so busy, I can’t guarantee my time at the moment, but I can find a few hours for Big Brum Bucket.
"Last year I really enjoyed talking about my experience of the hospice, the work they do and how they help people.”
To sign up to volunteer for Big Brum Bucket just like Anne, please visit our website 👉 https://bit.ly/4izfjLg