Friends and family of Zena Butcher reach £100,000 for St Nicholas Hospice Care creating her legacy

The family and friends of Zena Butcher have reached an extraordinary milestone, raising £100,000 for St Nicholas Hospice Care the charity that supported Zena and her family through the most difficult of times.

Zena Butcher died on 1 June 2005, aged just 37, after a six-year battle with a malignant brain tumour. In the years that followed, her family and friends found comfort in fundraising for the hospice that had cared for Zena and supported them during her illness and after her death.

What began as a goal to raise £10,000 as a thank you to the hospice grew into a remarkable legacy.

Over the past 20 years, Zena’s family and friends have organised 63 fundraising events and received 836 donations, with support from local businesses, individuals, sponsors, schools, clubs, and groups, all united in honouring Zena’s memory.

Ten years after Zena’s passing, her partner Darren Gibbs, their daughter Connie, and their family launched the “Zena 10” initiative, marking the anniversary with a series of fundraising events themed around the number ten. Annual balls, marathons, netball tournaments, skydives, and more have brought the community together.

Zena’s daughter, Connie Gibbs, said: “Mum was full of life. Strong, confident, funny, and endlessly kind. She was so well-loved in Bury St Edmunds that over 600 people came to her funeral. That alone tells you just how many lives she touched. I truly believe Mum would be proud. Proud that in her name, we’ve spent the last twenty years turning grief into action, and pain into purpose.”

Zena’s sister, Tracy Butcher, added: “We may have met our £100,000 legacy for our Zena but it’s not the end. Never say never!”

Throughout their journey, the family has spoken of the vital role St Nicholas Hospice Care played in their lives. The hospice’s specialist services, including the Nicky’s Way programme for children and young people, provided crucial support to Connie and Darren as they navigated their grief.

Zena’s partner, Darren Gibbs, said: “Of course, we give a massive thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to contribute by parting with hard earned cash, however large or small to get us to such a fantastic total.

“But perhaps more importantly the generosity of personal support (to know that others are with you on the journey, however difficult that is or may get), of personal time, time to organise, time to create, time to listen, time to walk or just sit, the gift of a hug in a time of need or a shoulder to lean on or cry on, or a little bit of wisdom or expert advice and perhaps the greatest of human qualities of genuine kindness and of course love.”

Zena was at the heart of this journey, inspiring her family and community to come together in her memory.

Charlie De-Moore, St Nicholas Hospice Care’s events manager, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Zena’s family, friends, and the wider community.

“Reaching £100,000 is a remarkable achievement that will help us provide specialist care and compassionate support to local people and their families when they need it most.

“This milestone is a testament to Zena’s legacy and the generosity of those who continue to honour her memory. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Zena 10 fundraising effort.”