Farewell to our Head of Fundraising, Debbie de Boltz

Farewell to our Head of Fundraising, Debbie de Boltz

After nearly 20 years of dedicated service, our Head of Fundraising, Debbie de Boltz, has retired from Farleigh Hospice.

Debbie first joined the hospice in 2001 as a Corporate Fundraiser, working at the original hospice on New London Road, Chelmsford. Shortly after joining, she stepped into an acting Fundraising Manager role, gaining experience across every aspect of fundraising.

She later developed a proposal to combine Corporate and Events Fundraising, creating a new role, and was involved in the capital appeal to build the current hospice in North Court Road – an incredibly exciting period for the organisation.

In 2010, Debbie left Farleigh to work with other charities, including the Rarer Cancers Foundation, where she helped establish a patient helpline and contributed to work leading up to the launch of the Cancer Drugs Fund. She later worked with the Wilderness Foundation, combining her passion for supporting children and the outdoors.

Debbie returned to Farleigh in 2015 as Fundraising Manager for Supporter-Led Fundraising, later becoming Head of Fundraising.

Looking back, she said, “I have spent almost 20 years of my career at Farleigh, and it has been a privilege.”

Reflecting on what motivated her, Debbie said, “I came from a corporate background and didn’t fully understand what hospice care involved when I first joined Farleigh. What I quickly learned is that it’s about helping people live as well as possible, right until the end of life, while supporting families every step of the way.”

“Seeing the incredible work carried out every day, not just by our clinical teams but by colleagues across the whole organisation, has given me the energy, passion and determination to do everything I can to raise the funds needed to support that work.”

Debbie describes Farleigh as “all about the people”. “The care, kindness and compassion shown to patients and their families is extraordinary, but what has always impressed me is that those values run throughout the entire organisation. Whether you are a nurse, fundraiser, volunteer, retail colleague or administrator, everyone is working towards the same goal.”

Her time at Farleigh has included many highlights. Debbie took part in nine overseas charity treks, including the Great Wall of China, Inner Mongolia, Malawi and Peru, meeting “truly inspirational supporters and fundraisers” along the way.

“My time here has been so much more than a job,” she said. “It has been about relationships, shared experiences and hearing people’s stories.”

Debbie and her family also experienced Farleigh’s care first-hand.

“Ten years ago, my partner John was diagnosed with cancer and sadly died very quickly. Farleigh’s nurses supported him at home before he was admitted to the hospice, where he died peacefully. The kindness, care and compassion shown to both John and our family at such a difficult time will never be forgotten.”

“It has been a very difficult decision,” Debbie added. “But after becoming a grandmother to four wonderful grandsons, and reaching retirement age, I decided it was time to create more space for family life and new adventures. This is very much a retirement from my role rather than a goodbye to the hospice.”

Looking ahead, Debbie will continue to support Farleigh as a volunteer ambassador.

“I am looking forward to meeting supporters and members of our local community, attending events, representing the hospice, giving talks and helping to thank people for the incredible support they provide. I feel very proud to continue my association with Farleigh and to remain an advocate for such a special organisation.”

Reflecting on what she will miss most, Debbie said, “I will miss the feeling of knowing that every day I am helping to make a difference. I will also miss the people, especially my fundraising team. They are extraordinary, hardworking, supportive, talented and great fun to be around. It has been a privilege to work alongside them, and I will miss them enormously.”

Thank you, Debbie, for 20 years of hard work and compassion. Your passion and commitment have made an immeasurable difference and will continue to shape Farleigh for years to come. We wish you all the very best in this next chapter.