Scarborough husband honours wife's memory with gift to comfort families at end of life

9 JULY 2026

Long-standing York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity supporter Randall Boston has funded a second cuddle bed for Scarborough Hospital in memory of his late wife, Liz, helping more families spend precious time together during life's most difficult moments.

The heartfelt donation, made with generous support from Randall's family and close friends, will create a lasting legacy in Liz's name, bringing comfort and dignity to patients receiving end-of-life care and those closest to them.

Randall has supported York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity for many years, often making donations in Liz's memory. As 29 July would have marked what would have been her 70th birthday, he wanted to celebrate her life in a way that would make a lasting difference to other families facing end-of-life care.

The idea came after Randall attended the charity's recent Thank You event, where members of the Palliative Care Team at Scarborough Hospital shared the impact the hospital's first cuddle bed has had on patients and their loved ones.

Inspired by their stories, Randall knew he wanted to help ensure even more families could experience the comfort, closeness and dignity a cuddle bed provides. Unlike a standard hospital bed, a cuddle bed can be safely extended to allow two people to lie together. They enable patients to remain physically close to those they love, offering comfort, reassurance and precious moments of connection when time matters most.

Thanks to Randall's generosity, Scarborough Hospital will now have a second cuddle bed. It will be permanently based in the Autumn Room, ensuring it is readily available for patients and families receiving end-of-life care in the dedicated space. The hospital's existing cuddle bed will continue to be used across other wards and departments, including Critical Care, allowing more patients and families to benefit whenever it is needed.

Randall recently visited Scarborough Hospital to meet members of the Palliative Care Team who thanked him personally for his extraordinary generosity and explained the difference the new cuddle bed will make.

Emma Feasby, Fundraising Manager at York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, said: "Randall's generosity is incredibly moving. Choosing to honour Liz's memory in this way means that countless other families will have the opportunity to share precious moments together when they matter most.

"We know from patients, families and our palliative care colleagues what a profound difference cuddle beds make. They offer comfort, closeness and dignity at the end of life, allowing loved ones to simply be together. We’re so grateful to Randall, his family and friends for making this possible, and for their continued support of our hospitals."

Randall Boston said: "Liz was a kind and caring person who always put others first. Being able to fund a cuddle bed in her memory felt like a fitting way to celebrate what would have been her 70th birthday.

"After hearing from the palliative care team about the difference the first cuddle bed has made, I knew I wanted to help other families create precious memories together. If this gift brings even a small amount of comfort to people during such difficult times, then that means everything to me."

A cuddle bed costs around £15,000 and is funded entirely through charitable donations. Randall was joined in making the donation by his sister, Joan Logan; brother-in-law, Dave McCann; sister-in-law, Moreen Treece; and close family friends, Peter and Jill Jordan.

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity supports projects and equipment that go beyond NHS funding to enhance care and improve the experience of patients, families and staff across York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. To find out more about the Autumn Project or to donate, visit: 
www.yshospitalscharity.org/autumnproject