Thanks to the support of solicitor firms in Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire, a total of £25,000 has been donated to The Forever Friends Appeal, the fundraising charity of the Royal United Hospitals (RUH), Bath.

This amount was achieved by the generosity of eleven solicitor firms who waived their Will-writing fees during the annual RUH Will Month scheme, giving people the opportunity to have a Will drawn up professionally at a reduced cost. Jan Witt, In Memory and Legacy Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal, said: “We are very appreciative of the generous support and commitment given to us by the solicitors who work extremely hard, drawing up hundreds of Wills between them and providing this service free throughout September.

“The majority of the funds raised from last year’s Will month were donated towards the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre that is being built close to the RUH main entrance.

It’s fantastic to receive the public’s support for this important build, as around 25,000 patients per year are reliant on our therapies services, and we are now calling on the public to help us to the finish line and raise the last £100,000 of the £2 million fundraising target.

“I have had the pleasure of working very closely with a large number of local solicitor firms over the years, and I am always astounded at the level of support and hard work they give, together with the public who take up the offer of the scheme. Everyone has played a vital part in supporting various medial projects over the years, enabling the RUH to continue to provide the very best level of acute care for the 500,000 people it serves. We are extremely humbled to each and every one of them.”

The RUH Will month scheme will run again this September as part of the charity’s calendar of events in marking its 20th anniversary. Details of the solicitor firms taking part this year are to be announced this summer.