
Construction firm makes wishes come true
A firm has raised almost £50,000 to grant wishes to patients who die in a hospital’s critical care unit.
Kent-based construction firm Bauvill have supported East Kent Hospitals Charity with funding for the 3 Wishes project at the William Harvey Hospital since 2021. Their latest donation, presented by managing director Matt Gurr, takes their total for the project to £49,375.56.
In that time, staff on the unit have been able to grant 222 wishes, ranging from providing transport to bring people together for the last hours of a loved one’s life to creating mementoes such as hand prints and photographs.
Natalie Daly, ward manager for critical care, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to the entire team at Bauvill for their ongoing support of the 3 Wishes Project.
“It is a real privilege to be able to grant the wishes of our patients and their families at such a heart-breaking time. Those wishes would not come true without the support of Bauvill and our other generous donors.
“Families tell us it makes a real difference and it is an honour to be able to provide truly personalised care that reflects what was important to their loved one throughout their life.”
Jane Kirk-Smith, critical care matron, said: “Each of those 222 wishes represents an incredibly special moment for a family losing a loved one.
“Words simply are not enough to thank the Bauvill team for their ongoing support in making those moments possible.”
Bauvill selected the project as their charity of the year and raised the money with a host of events for staff and partners, including a charity football tournament.
Dee Neligan, head of East Kent Hospitals Charity, said: “We were thrilled to be able to welcome Bauvill back to the unit to hear how their support so far has helped the wonderful team create such meaningful memories for patients and their loved ones.
“The feedback the team have received from families is truly humbling and shows the real impact of these often very small wishes.
“It simply wouldn’t be possible without the amazing support from Bauvill and we will forever be grateful for their support.”
One family whose son died in critical care said the 3 Wishes Project offered comfort to the whole family.
They said: “In the darkest moments we felt warmth and a glimmer of light. The keepsakes allowed us to hold on to someone special for the rest of time.”
A woman whose husband died was able to say goodbye to him in the unit’s garden, with his favourite music playing.
She said: “It was devastating but a nice way to say goodbye. I feel the project offers so much comfort in a very very sad time.”
Managing director Matt Gurr said: “From helping launch the Three Wishes Project in 2021 to reaching this £50,000 milestone today, it has been a privilege for everyone at Bauvill to play a part in supporting such a meaningful initiative.
“The project resonates deeply with us, not just because of the care it provides during life’s most difficult moments, but because we’ve seen first-hand the compassion and dedication of the clinical teams behind it. Knowing our fundraising has helped make hundreds of final wishes possible is incredibly humbling, and something we’re immensely proud of.”