The Foundation was established by Leon Crouch during his lifetime, to continue his philanthropic efforts after his passing. Leon was an exceptionally generous man, deeply involved in supporting local causes and charities. His dedication to helping others was truly inspiring, and his daughters are honoured to serve as Trustees for the Foundation, carrying forward his legacy of giving.
In 2019, Leon sadly passed away due to secondary cancer, with melanoma as the primary cause. This experience has made skin cancer a cause that Leon’s family feel passionately about. Leon’s daughter Hannah has been a patient of Dr. MacFarlane at the Royal South Hants Hospital, undergoing several minor operations for skin cancer-related conditions. These experiences gave Hannah firsthand insight into the fear and uncertainty that come with such diagnoses. Inspired by Leon’s and Hannah’s journeys, Leon’s daughters were particularly motivated to support the Dermatology department at RSH. Through them, they learned about a promising research project that they were eager to contribute to.
Leon’s daughters told us:
“Our experience of donating to the University has been nothing short of exceptional. The engagement and communication from the University have been outstanding. Nicola provided us with a clear gift agreement, outlining exactly what our donation would support and what we could expect in return. The visit to the University was eye-opening; we were amazed by the impressive facilities. We also had the pleasure of meeting Professor Arden-Jones at Southampton General, who was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and passionate about the project. His enthusiasm and dedication left us feeling privileged to play even a small part in this important research.”
“Overall, the process of donating to the University has been a profoundly positive and rewarding experience. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such meaningful work and to honor our father’s legacy in a way that aligns with his values and passions.”