Latest news with #BucketListWishes
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Terminally ill Reading crane hero has bucket list wishes granted
A terminally ill hero crane operator, who rescued a workman from a burning high-rise building is set to get his bucket list wishes Edwards was dubbed the "Bruce Willis of Reading" after using a cage to rescue the workman, who was trapped on a roof of the Station Hill development in November being told his spine cancer had grown Mr Edwards' wife, Kate, asked Bucket List Wishes for help "to make some lasting treasured memories together whilst we can".The charity has stepped in and will first help the couple and their teenage son move home, before organising several other wishes for Mr Edwards and his loved ones once they are settled in. Mr Edwards said: "Things are not too clever... I've got [sic] diagnosed with terminal cancer."I had cancer in the tongue in February when I rescued the guy... I got that cleared up with radiotherapy but then in the next breath, after I had a full body scan, the consultant told me that I had cancer in my spine in five places."I have been undergoing chemotherapy... but it has grown, to cut a long story short."Feeling overwhelmed with their much-awaited house move and the news Mr Edwards was set to undergo another course of chemotherapy in the next few weeks, Mrs Edwards turned to Bucket List Wishes. The couple had previously met Gini Hackett, founder of the Berkshire charity that grants wishes for terminally ill adults in Berkshire, at the BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Hackett said: "I just remember watching his nomination and thinking, 'Wow.. he's incredible, what an incredible thing to do for another human'."Then Glen's wife contacted us just over a week ago to ask us if we would help them."We found this humbling but also we've been emotional about this because we know how much of a hero Glen is... hopefully we have gone over and above and made a quite simple but stressful thing of moving a lot easier for him."The charity has organised the house move, along with carpets, flooring, blinds and kitchen essentials, including an oven. Thanking the charity, Mr Edwards described Gini as an "angel"."What she has done for us has been unbelievable, she has taken so much pressure off us," he said his diagnosis meant he had been unable to work."I've had to retire... I had no intention of retiring at 65," he supporting the move, the charity has also helped the Edwards family set up an online fundraising page to achieve their further Edwards, who has always played down his heroics, was thanked by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue for his incredibly skilful rescue, under extremely difficult circumstances. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference: Bucket list charity sees 'positive impact'
A woman who started a charity to help terminally ill adults achieve their dying wishes said winning a BBC award had helped raise the profile of her Hackett, from Burghfield, was the winner of the volunteer category at the BBC Berkshire Make a Difference Awards, which were held in Hackett said the publicity she received after being selected as a finalist had resulted in greater awareness of her charity, and had also led to some donations from listeners who heard her on BBC Radio Tutu Melaku, who won the community award, has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards as it can "affect a whole community". Nominations close on 31 March. Ms Hackett started her charity Bucket List Wishes in 2013 after her mother died from her mother was given just months to live, Ms Hackett encouraged her to make a bucket list and helped her tick off the experiences one by one. After seeing how it helped her, and also gave precious memories to loved ones left behind, she was inspired to start the charity. Since then, the charity has granted wishes to more than 165 terminally ill adults, including animal experiences, mini breaks away, sporting events and arranging for them to meet their favourite celebrities or sports Hackett said: "Just being recognised is really special - this will be our 12th year and I took the award on behalf of all of our amazing volunteers."She said there had been a "really positive impact" since she received the award."With our donations you can actually trace them to the wishes, so we were able to say to those that heard us on the radio and then donated, this is the wish you helped us with."So that was really nice to be able to share the wish story with them." Ms Melaku runs an Ethopian cafe in Reading's Palmer Park and was another BBC Berkshire Make a Difference award took home the community award in recognition of the work she has done to bring people in the town together. Her cafe has become a meeting point for all kinds of groups, among them homeschooling parents, people discussing their mental health, cycling and walking groups and Women's Institute (WI) coffee mornings. "I have 16 groups at the moment... somebody said it's the biggest number in Reading," she cafe is also home to regular open mic nights and community events. Ms Melaku said she was shocked to find out she had been nominated for the award and, even after the win, still had no idea who put her forward. However, she said would urge others to nominate this year. "If you know someone and they are doing something for the community, please do nominate them because the feeling is so lovely," she said."They might think they are just doing their job but you don't know how you impact on people's lives, and when you get that nomination, it makes you want to do more." How to nominate The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
