Coping Through Giving: Claire McDowell’s 20-Year Fundraising Career Inspired by Personal Loss

Following the sudden and aggressive cancer diagnosis and subsequent death of her father, Fred, Claire McDowell discovered comfort in assisting others. She states that fundraising served as her method of processing her father’s passing. To date, Ms. McDowell has generated £25,000 for Marie Curie and the Myton Hospice, the institution that provided care for him in 1998. This endeavor subsequently evolved into a 20-year career dedicated to securing millions of pounds to aid families experiencing similar circumstances. At the time of her father’s death, Ms. McDowell, a resident of Coventry, held multiple positions, including hairdresser and receptionist. However, her talent for organizing fundraising initiatives, such as social events and fairs, was quickly acknowledged, leading to a job offer at Myton. She played a crucial role in establishing the charity’s Coventry hospice, where she currently holds the position of fundraising and front of house lead. This facility has provided care for thousands of individuals during their end-of-life stages and is scheduled to commemorate its 15th anniversary next month. Ms. McDowell elaborated, “They were so amazing that I started fundraising before I came to work for Myton.” She added, “I had a great dad. He put us first as children and it was a shock with the illness he had.” Currently, the mother of two children extends support to other families confronting the profound grief of losing a loved one. “It’s a privilege to be there for somebody,” she stated. “I love my job. You can hear some really sad stories and it can be very difficult. But I have seen it first hand. I have been there as a relative and I have been out here. The compassion and kindness is lovely.” Ms. McDowell commends the volunteers, nurses, and the entire staff at the Coventry hospice, noting that flowers and chocolates are delivered to employees almost daily. While the positive aspects of the role are significant—including beach days, alpaca visits, and Christmas reindeers—staff members also encounter demanding circumstances. According to Ms. McDowell, the demand for hospice beds is currently higher than ever, yet three out of five individuals on the Myton waiting list will pass away before they can secure one. She further explained, “People hear about the wonderful care Myton give and they choose to be over here rather than being at home.” Consequently, fundraising efforts are continuous. Only 20% of the charity’s funding originates from the NHS, requiring staff to secure £11 million of the £14.3 million needed to deliver services without charge. To contextualize this financial requirement, Ms. McDowell mentioned that when she began her role, staff only needed to raise £1.7 million. Now, with an increased number of centers, rising demand, and inflation, costs continue to escalate. Nevertheless, she maintains that the diligent work is worthwhile, as the funds are utilized to create cherished memories for families. Ms. McDowell elaborated, “We have done several weddings, including some for patients that only have a week or two left.” She added, “In some cases they have to be organised in just days, which means it is a case of having all hands on deck to get things sorted. We like to dress it up like a wedding venue and make it really nice for the patients and their family.” Myton operates a total of three hospices, located in Coventry, Rugby, and Warwick. These facilities provide care for individuals aged 18 and above who are living with various life-limiting illnesses. “It’s to give people memories,” Ms. McDowell stated. “When you have lost someone you like to have the memories. We might be having a tough day but we’re making a difference to families’ lives.” A Christmas fair is scheduled for 7 December to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Coventry hospice. This event aims to support a £240,000 fundraising initiative intended to cover the recruitment, training, and annual salaries for five registered nurses. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.