The CPBF supports carer in time of need.

Date of article: 30-Sep-10

The Care Professionals Benevolent Fund is delighted that it has been able to continue helping carers by offering financial assistant to Tracey Fernandez, a 37 year old full time mother from Cardiff, South Wales. Tracey is the wife of Stephen Fernandez, a 41 year old care assistant who tragically died suddenly and without obvious cause earlier this year. Devout mother of two sons aged 6 and 11 years, Tracey was left with limited financial income as Stephen had, up to that point, been the sole provider for the family. A further problem with the delivery of her state benefits, Tracey fell in to financial difficulties and was unable to meet the costs for her late husbands funeral. Without the necessary funds and desperate to say goodbye to her husband in traditional fashion Tracey approached the CPBF for support.

Tracey was first directed to the charity by Stephen’s employer Hallmark Healthcare, who happen to be one of the charity’s founder members, where she was treated sympathetically and speedily as arrangements for the funeral had already been made. The CPBF listened to Tracey’s case and were only too happy to help by offering her a grant that, in conjunction with a grant from Hallmark Healthcare, would ensure that the cost of the funeral was taken care of.

In a letter to the CPBF thanking them for the support, Tracey wrote: “I again want to say a huge thank you for all that you have done for me and the boys. Its one big stress you have made so much easier to bear. Without you I don’t know what we would have done.