Oscar-nominated actor Richard E Grant and his daughter Olivia are backing Longfield Community Hospice’s Big Give Christmas Challenge after the loss of his wife, Joan Washington.
Longfield Hospice gave his late wife palliative care in her final weeks, and now Grant and his daughter Olivia are urging people to dig deep and donate to help Longfield to deliver home care to adults with a terminal illness.
“Longfield Hospice in Gloucestershire gave absolutely amazing palliative care in the final two weeks of my wife’s life,” said Grant. “I’m asking you if you’re willing to join me to donate to the Big Give Christmas Challenge to help other people at Christmas.”
Film and stage ran in the family with Washington a dialect coach on films including The Witches and Red Sparrow.
Washington worked on Oscar-winning film Elizabeth and with Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman on The Phantom Menace.
At the time of her death in September, Grant tweeted a film of them dancing, calling her the “love of my life and giver of life to our daughter Olivia”.
Daughter, Olivia Grant, a film director, also spoke out in support of the hospice. In an emotional video, she said: “My beautiful, beautiful mum, Joan Washington, passed away prematurely from lung cancer earlier this year and I would just like to say a huge thank you to Longfield Hospice who made her final weeks at home as comfortable and comforting as they possibly could have been.”
Both Richard and Olivia have donated generously to the hospice’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, which runs for one week only, from midday on Tuesday 30 November to midday on Tuesday 7 December.
Now the hospice is asking others to take up the challenge. Every pound donated means Longfield can deliver care at home for adults with a terminal illness – helping more families spend one last precious Christmas together.
Susan Parris is Director of Care at Longfield Community Hospice. She said: “I’d like to say thank you to Richard and Olivia for supporting our work. Our Hospice at Home team, who cared for Joan, were touched by their messages and proud to have made a difference.
“Now we’re asking you to donate to the Big Give Christmas Challenge. We want to be there for more families who need our help, this Christmas and beyond.”
To donate visit www.longfield.org.uk/the-big-give-christmas-challenge
