HUNDREDS of people wrote messages of what they hope to achieve before they die on a giant blackboard in Evesham town centre.

St Richard’s Hospice set up the four-sided board in Evesham as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week – a national campaign highlighting the importance of talking about death, dying and bereavement.

More than 300 people engaged with the ‘Before I Die’ board, with many using chalk to write down their hopes, dreams and how they would like to be remembered.

Comments ranged from serious, emotional messages – such as ‘to make my parents proud’ – to light-hearted wishes, including ‘to eat pancakes in America’.

Alice Spearing, St Richard’s engagement officer, said: “We were really pleased that we sparked interest among the community and it was great to have positive conversations around people’s wishes regarding death, dying and bereavement.”

Ms Spearing ran the board in Evesham and again in Worcester High Street, on Thursday, May 11, with the hospice’s Family Support Team.

The aim of the board, put up on Tuesday May 9 was to create a friendly space for people to ask questions about end of life care issues, such as making a will, planning a funeral or coping with bereavement.

About one percent of the UK population dies each year, which means about 5,000 people will die in Worcestershire during 2017 – and each of those deaths will affect many more people in different ways.

Claire Henry MBE, chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters coalition, said: “We should not be afraid of talking about death, I know that everyone has questions and concerns, its good talk about it as we can all get our plans in place and then get on with living.”

For more information about Dying Matters visit dyingmatters.org

St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their loved ones.

Each year the hospice team supports over 2,500 patients and family members in Worcestershire.

St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it continue its work.

Find out more at strichards.org.uk