The widow of a north-east oilman who died of a rare cancer has collected thousands of pounds for the hospice that looked after him in his final days.
Tom Bruce, 43, of Stonehaven, died last Monday after a two-year battle with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in Roxburghe House, Aberdeen, with his family at his side.
It was one of his final wishes that – upon his death – something be given back to the palliative care unit, which offers patients and their families support. His wife, Patricia, set up a JustGiving page with the hope of raising £10,000 for the centre – but thanks to the generosity of friends, family and strangers touched by Mr Bruce’s story, she has already smashed her target.
So far just under £15,000 has been raised in the space of a week, on top of the £2,898 collected at the oil and gas operation manager’s funeral last Wednesday.
Mr Bruce worked for Rowan Drilling, based in Aberdeen.
Mrs Bruce said she was overwhelmed at the support – and said she wished she could call her husband to tell him the news. The mother-of-two, who now hopes to volunteer at Roxburghe House, said: “I have no words to express it – it shows how people care about Tom. I was brave because when we were doing the page I said ‘you know what, let’s go for £10,000′. Then within 24 hours it reached 60% of that.
“I kind of want to give him a call and tell him.”
Brazilian Mrs Bruce met her husband in 1999 when his work took him to Macae, and they have two children together – seven-year-old Melanie and Daniel, one.
A celebration of Mr Bruce’s life will be held at Fetteresso Church, Stonehaven, on August 24, which would have been his 44th birthday.
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/Thomas-Bruce3