Giving Tuesday: Brenda’s story

This year, for Giving Tuesday we want to celebrate the amazing generosity that we see on a regular basis from our supporters. Throughout the day, we will be sharing with you stories from those who have contributed to the success of Treloar’s over the years to show just how grateful we are to have received the help that we have. From the bottom of our hearts, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support year after year.

We’d like to kick off Giving Tuesday with the story of Brenda and Peter Cox, who supported Treloar’s throughout their married life.

Brenda’s life-long connection and support for Treloar’s began following her diagnosis of polio In September 1947, when Brenda was just a year and nine months old.  She spent a lot of her time at the Lord Mayor Treloar Hospital, which specialised in helping children with their medical problems.

I spent three long spells in the Treloar Hospital while the staff tried to help me walk and overcome my polio problem. My early schooling was really affected by my hospital visits, as I was not really able to settle down. Some schooling was in ‘Treloar’s Hospital’ and some in my local school. The name ‘Treloar’s’ and the help that I was given by the staff at that hospital has had a very big influence on my life for which I shall always be grateful.

As an adult, Brenda wanted to continue to support Treloar’s and her devoted husband Pete was happy to do this too, because he knew how much Treloar’s had helped her in her earlier life. Pete remembers:

At certain times in our married life, notably our Silver Wedding and our Golden Wedding, rather than family and friends giving us presents, we asked for donations in place of presents. Brenda said she wanted to support Treloar’s for the help that she received when she needed it.

On one occasion they raised £600 and the donations for their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2016 raised over £1,000 which they proudly presented to Jon Colville, Treloar’s Director of Fundraising at that time. In addition to this, when Pete celebrated his 70th birthday, he also made a donation to the Treloar School and College, seen in the photo below.

Brenda also felt it would also be lovely to have her time at Treloar’s remembered and was very proud of her brick, installed as part of the ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme. Pictured here is the brick along with Brenda visiting to see it, in pride of place in the Piazza.

Over the years, Brenda and Pete visited Treloar’s on various occasions:

Christmas Concerts and ‘collectors days’ were high points for us and gave us a chance to visit the School and College over many years.

Sadly, earlier this year, Brenda passed away. Pete and his family requested donations in her memory to support Treloar’s. He told us:

It was a natural thing to do based on past history which we know Brenda would have wanted. Our family really appreciated the help Brenda received all those years ago. Brenda and myself recognised the good work that is carried out by Treloar’s today for the benefit of disabled children today, which was the same in Brenda’s day.  However, the types of disabilities now are more complex, and the costs are much higher with the amount of equipment needed, hence any donation will be gratefully received.

We are very happy that Pete continues to support Treloar’s, and it is always a pleasure to see him at our events. We know that we will share many stories and memories of Brenda on these occasions, and we are very grateful for everything he and Brenda have done to support Treloar’s over the years.

Donate – with your support, we can help change lives

We are pleased to announce that Treloar’s is the first in the UK to receive the Ability Drive software enabling student Luca to drive his wheelchair by himself. Thank you so much for the generous donations made by family, friends and supporters.

We need to raise around £2 million every year to continue to meet the needs of all our disabled young people. Find out more here: Treloar School & College Donate | Treloar School & College