Victoria Hospice has received two donations totaling more than $3.8 million - the largest gifts in its 36-year history.
The donations were left by two donors in their wills.
According to the hospice, the first donation of $1.4 million came in May from the estate of Judy Kedwell and less than two months later the second gift of $2.4 million arrived from the estate of former Victoria Times Colonist reporter Lloyd A. Barrett.
Both families were at the hospice on Friday for a celebration of the donations.
“Today Victoria Hospice celebrates two gifts from ordinary Victorians who have each made an extraordinary contribution to end-of-life care for our community,” said Mischelle vanThiel, Victoria Hospice CEO.
Kedwell spent time in the hospice before she died.
Barrett did not, but end-of-life care was something his family says he was passionate about.
A portion of the funds will be used to help more people manage their symptoms and pain as they reach the end of their life.
Victoria Hospice depends on donors to cover about half of its costs every year.
There are 17 beds in Victoria and more than 300 people who receive services throughout the capital region.
