When a loved one has a life limiting illness, it is one of the most difficult periods of your life. For Denise Young, last year she went through this time along with her teenage daughters as her husband Craig moved into Butterwick Hospice for the final few weeks of his life. Denise has been generous enough to share her story with us and our community.

Denise told us how her family’s experience with the Hospice went. “When my husband Craig was in his final weeks, he spent this precious time at Butterwick Hospice as we were unable to manage his pain at home.  We were incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing facility right on our doorstep in Stockton, which meant Craig’s family and friends were able to visit regularly and spend meaningful time with him.

From the moment we arrived, the staff at Butterwick Hospice made us feel supported and at ease during what was undoubtedly the hardest period of our lives. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble from allowing me to take a shower and sleep over to the kitchen staff and cleaners who supplied delicious food and were always happy to chat. My teenage daughters often commented on how kind everyone was — from remarking on how nice the food was in the café, to the staff and volunteers who would happily make them sandwiches and chips at any time of day or night. These small but thoughtful gestures meant more than words can express and brought comfort to my daughters at a time when our lives were about to change forever.

Craig spent several weeks at the hospice, and during that time we witnessed first hand just how busy it was. Patients often arrived for very short stays before another family followed, each carrying their own heartbreak. Every single time, the staff showed unwavering integrity, kindness, compassion, and patience — giving families the time and space they needed to process their loss.

Through this experience, I came to truly understand how vital Butterwick Hospice is to families across Teesside. I saw and felt the difference this exceptional care makes, and it is why I wanted to give something back — to say thank you, to show my appreciation, and to help ensure that this incredible service can continue. My hope is that every family facing a similar journey will receive the same level of care, dignity, and kindness that Craig and our family were so gently given.”

Later, Denise gave her thoughts on the work we do at for the community. “Butterwick Hospice not only cared for my husband, and my girls’ dad, with unwavering compassion, dignity, and respect, but they also made us feel truly welcome and supported during what was an incredibly difficult time for us all. From the very beginning, we felt cared for not just as patients and family members, but as people who mattered.

This care did not end when Craig passed away. The team at Butterwick continued to support us, reaching out and offering counselling, which my youngest daughter and I chose to take up. This support proved invaluable, helping us to begin adjusting to life without Craig and giving us a safe space to process and grieve in our own time.

Whilst the grief never truly goes away, we are slowly finding our new normal, and I am deeply grateful to Butterwick Hospice for gently guiding and supporting us through this transition. Without this vital service, so many families across Teesside would be left without the care and support they need during the most heartbreaking moments of their lives.

I have recently returned to work — something I could not have imagined just a few months ago — and that is, in no small part, thanks to the care and ongoing support we received from Butterwick Hospice.”

After dealing with the loss of her husband, Denise organised a fundraising event honouring Craig. She explained to us why she decided to do this, and how the event unfolded. To mark the first anniversary of Craig’s death, we wanted to do something that truly reflected the man he was — a devoted husband, a loving dad, a loyal friend, and a valued colleague.

Craig passed away on 8th February 2025, and it felt fitting to come together on Saturday 7th February 2026 to remember him in a way he would have loved, by holding a charity night in his honour.

With the support of my two best friends Rachel D’Souza and Sabrina Donkin, we began planning what we called a “night of celebration” — not only to remember Craig, but to celebrate the life he lived and the people he brought together.

As we reached out for raffle prizes, we were completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown by local businesses, friends, family, and members of the wider community. Their willingness to support us was truly humbling.

Craig had been the singer in a local band Naked Eye, and his bandmates very kindly arranged live music for the evening. It was fantastic and felt especially meaningful, bringing Craig’s passion for music into the night.

Blackwells Butchers Norton provided the pie and peas, which were generously paid for TeesWorks Benevolent fund who also donated corporate box tickets for Middlesbrough and Newcastle football clubs along with a generous donation towards purchasing a new bladder scanner — a kindness that went above and beyond.

The event was held at Roseworth Social Club, just a short distance from Butterwick Hospice, who kindly donated the room hire free of charge, for which we are incredibly grateful.

The raffle prizes were wide ranging and incredibly generous, including beauty and restaurant vouchers, weekends away, signed football shirts, matchday tickets, golf days, and so much more. We were truly blown away by the support and would like to thank each and every person who contributed and helped make the evening possible.

We received so many donations that we were able to run a tombola, which sold out almost immediately — a wonderful reflection of the generosity in the room.

The evening was filled with Craig’s friends and family, and although he was no longer physically with us, his presence was felt throughout the night. In the same way he always had, Craig brought people together — united in love, memories, and celebration.

We would just like to thank Denise for sharing her story with us. Her strength and compassion are truly inspiring. Lastly, another huge thank you to Denise and everyone involved in the “night of celebration” for raising £4000 for Butterwick Hospice! Your wonderful generosity will go towards helping our community with life limiting illness.