Remembering Kathy Copp, a founding member of ELF's first hospital shop
We were sad to learn of the recent passing of long-term ELF supporter Kathy Copp.
Kathy's late husband Brian was a patient on Yarty ward in 1990 following a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), before sadly passing away in 1991 at the age of 57. Following Brian's death, Kathy became involved with ELF and was one of the initial team who set up a table in the main entrance at the old hospital, taking donations of clothes and accessories to raise funds in support of the ward. The table grew until there was a need for space to run a small shop, and thus the first ELF shop was born within the original RD&E hospital, the proceeds of which helped to fund one of the first ELF-supported nursing positions on Yarty ward.
Kathy volunteered in the hospital shop for many years and additionally supported ELF in her position as Lady Captain at Exeter Golf and Country Club, selecting Exeter Leukaemia Fund as her favoured charity for Golf Days and tournaments. This was something Brian had previously done when it was his Captaincy Year at the Club, and ELF received much fundraising support from Exeter Golf and Country Club over the years thanks to the Copp family.
Kathy sadly passed away on 1st March 2022 and her children, Sandra and Mark, thought it only fitting that ELF should benefit from the donations collected in memory of their beloved mum. We are incredibly grateful to the Copp family for their generous donation of £600 in Kathy's memory. Sandra and Mark are also donating a trophy to Exeter Golf and Country Club in memory of Kathy and Brian for their joint love of Golf and over 50 years membership, a fitting tribute to them both.