Pat Thorn:
My Gift to Unicef

Why UNICEF is my charity of choice

“You support whatever organisation you think will make the biggest change in the world.”

Pat, and her husband Frank, made a joint decision to recognise UNICEF UK in their Will.

“It was a simple decision for us to put UNICEF in our Wills. UNICEF UK has always been sensible and accountable.”

Pat and Frank were first inspired to support UNICEF in the 1980s after reading our annual report.

“Frank was very fired up. He really liked the way they worked, and their accountability,” recalls Pat.

Upon retirement Pat and Frank volunteered for UNICEF by touring schools and organisations around Britain to give talks about UNICEF’s work for children.

They also investigated UNICEF’s work for themselves: “On one occasion we were able to travel to Mombasa and we saw vaccination and primary health programmes taking place in small villages along the way… we met community leaders and saw how UNICEF set up non-governmental schools.”

“UNICEF has this network in place, doing good work all the time, not just when there’s an emergency.”

Why Pat has chosen to include a gift in her Will

“I feel you should be doing what you can to help,” says Pat.

After Frank passed away in 2001, Pat has continued to support UNICEF UK by baking cakes and selling homemade preserves at her local country market each week. All funds raised are donated to UNICEF.

Pat says: “Working to improve the lot of those who haven’t had the advantages that I’ve had is the best thing I could do.”

“I’ve been so lucky – but I don’t feel that it should be left to luck; I feel you should be doing what you can to help.”