Brave Rugby boy's letter asking for help for hospices gets the support of Rugby MP and the Prime Minister

Brave nine-year-old Rugby resident Tommy Young and his family won the backing of Rugby MP Mark Pawsey and the Prime Minister after his letter asking for more support for hospices was raised in Prime Minister’s Questions.

Alan Young, Tommy’s father, died in 2019 after suffering with cancer - receiving care from Myton Hospice in Warwick as he became more ill.

After Alan’s death, Tommy sent a handwritten letter to the Prime Minister asking him to “give some money to the hospices so they do not shut down.”

Tommy also wrote about how important the work of Myton Hospice was for Tommy, his brother Shay and his mother Kelly, at the end of Alan’s life.

During lockdown the family have continued fundraising for Myton Hospice in Alan’s memory, raising more than £4,400 for the charity.

Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby and Bulkington, spoke about Tommy’s letter and urged the Prime Minister to provide support for hospices during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mark also joined Tommy and his family in thanking Myton, and all hospices throughout the country, for the work they do to provide care for people at the end of their life.

Speaking after Prime Ministers Questions, Mr Pawsey said: “Tommy’s letter is a reminder of just how important hospices are for families in one of the most challenging times of their lives.

"I want to thank all those working and volunteering in hospices for the support which they provide to people like Alan.

"I know that the Prime Minister shares those thoughts and was touched by Tommy’s letter.”

“Since the lockdown, charities such as Myton Hospice and other hospices have been under tremendous pressure.

"The majority of their funding is thanks to the generous support of the public through their shops and the thousands of fundraising events which take place each year.

"Due to the restrictions imposed by coronavirus, many of these events have not been able to take place and so hospices faced a major funding challenge.

"That is why the Government is providing £200 million per quarter for the hospice sector, in addition to the £750 million provided for charities.”

Kelly Young, Tommy’s mother, said: “Tommy was over the moon - myself and Shay could not be any prouder of him and I know that Alan will be up there beaming with pride.

"That letter was Tommy’s own doing and straight from the heart.

"Both Tommy and Shay were extremely frightened when Alan first went into Myton Hospice as they knew what was going to happen and hated the first two days.

"But all the staff there were amazing and put our boys at ease.

"They looked after us all, not just Alan, we will be forever thankful to Myton.

"They will always hold a piece of our hearts.”