Tanto Cosi trust makes donation to St Barnabas Hospice

A man whose wife died from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive brain tumour, handed over a cheque for £2,400 to St Barnabas Hospice who helped care for her in her final days.

Italian born mother of three, Simonetta Cengarle died on August 17, aged 47, only nine months after being diagnosed.

Her husband, Toby Desforges vowed to honour her legacy through ‘The Tanto Cosi Trust’ to help support St Barnabas Hospice, Sue Ryder Care, The Brain Tumour Charity and other projects which support the education of young women and girls.

The name ‘Tanto Cosi’ is Italian for ‘So much’ and was used by Simonetta as a way of signing off letters to her husband.

On Friday, November 9, Toby handed over a cheque for £2,400 to Chris Wheway of St Barnabas.

Toby said the support the family had received from St Barnabas had made the experience “far less traumatic”.

“The nurses from St Barnabas were consistently good and always turned up when we needed them,” he said.

“They were genuinely caring, genuinely competent and genuinely concerned.

"They were exactly who we needed during a time that was emotionally and mentally exhausting.

"My only regret is that I didn’t contact St Barnabas sooner.”

Toby said the trust had raised £12,000 since September last year which had been given to various organisations.

“This was raised in a variety of ways including donations, online appeals and through a fundraising function held in February at the Stamford Rugby Club.”