In July 2015 Tony Jules decided to fundraise to buy 'an Angel' - the cost of a nurse for one year who would care for other terminally ill patients after he had died. He achieved his final legacy in January 2016. Tony, 63, from Sundon Park in Luton died on Sunday 7 February at Keech, surrounded by his loved ones. Tony's family continue to fundraise in his memory.

This is Tony's story...

I have terminal prostrate cancer and only a short time to live, but consider myself lucky to be receiving care from the wonderful team at Keech Hospice.I know I haven’t got long to do it, but as my final mission, I want to raise £40,000 to ‘pay for an angel’ –the cost of a nurse for one year who will care for others after I’ve gone. Any donation you can provide will make a difference to my final wish.

When family or a care home could no longer look after me due to my 24 hour needs, I came to Keech. It’s one of those things you never think will happen to you –cancer. After being told by doctors in October 2011 the cancer had also spread to my bones and lymph nodes, I knew little could be done, but I want to continue to help my community, as I have done all my life.

From the top up I look fine but I can no longer walk, and from the bottom down, what with a terrible bedsore and my cancer, it’s a totally different story. I’m not afraid of dying, I’ve accepted it. I never dwelled on the fact my cancer was terminal. But I want to leave a final legacy.

Whatever time I have left, from my bed, I have set myself up to pay for an angel. Everyday I say to the nurses ‘God has sent you here as my little angels.’ It may sound funny, but I have never come across a group of such dedicated people in my life as what I have experienced here. The nurses’ laugh, they don’t see themselves as angels, but nothing is too much for them.

People find it strange when I say, I am so lucky to be here. The positive spirit at Keech is amazing – you can’t see it, but you can feel it.

 People say to me ‘with little time left Tony, why do this, surely you could spend your days doing other things?’ My view of hospices’, and especially Keech, has been transformed over night. That’s why I’m doing this. When I’ve gone others will need their own angels. Please help.