'Positive impact' of BBC win on bucket list charity

A woman who started a charity to help terminally ill adults achieve their dying wishes said winning a BBC award had helped raise the profile of her work.

Gini Hackett, from Burghfield, was the winner of the volunteer category at the BBC Berkshire Make a Difference Awards, which were held in September.

Ms Hackett said the publicity she received after being selected as a finalist had resulted in greater awareness of her charity, and had also led to some donations from listeners who heard her on BBC Radio Berkshire.

Meanwhile, Tutu Melaku, who won the community award, has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards as it can "affect a whole community". Nominations close on 31 March.

Ms Hackett started her charity Bucket List Wishes in 2013 after her mother died from cancer.

When her mother was given just months to live, Ms Hackett encouraged her to make a bucket list and helped her tick off the experiences one by one.

After seeing how it helped her, and also gave precious memories to loved ones left behind, she was inspired to start the charity.

Since then, the charity has granted wishes to more than 165 terminally ill adults, including animal experiences, mini breaks away, sporting events and arranging for them to meet their favourite celebrities or sports stars.

Ms Hackett said: "Just being recognised is really special - this will be our 12th year and I took the award on behalf of all of our amazing volunteers."

She said there had been a "really positive impact" since she received the award.

"With our donations you can actually trace them to the wishes, so we were able to say to those that heard us on the radio and then donated, this is the wish you helped us with.

"So that was really nice to be able to share the wish story with them."

Ms Melaku runs an Ethopian cafe in Reading's Palmer Park and was another BBC Berkshire Make a Difference award winner.

She took home the community award in recognition of the work she has done to bring people in the town together.

Her cafe has become a meeting point for all kinds of groups, among them homeschooling parents, people discussing their mental health, cycling and walking groups and Women's Institute (WI) coffee mornings.

"I have 16 groups at the moment... somebody said it's the biggest number in Reading," she explained.

The cafe is also home to regular open mic nights and community events.

Ms Melaku said she was shocked to find out she had been nominated for the award and, even after the win, still had no idea who put her forward.

However, she said would urge others to nominate this year.

"If you know someone and they are doing something for the community, please do nominate them because the feeling is so lovely," she said.

"They might think they are just doing their job but you don't know how you impact on people's lives, and when you get that nomination, it makes you want to do more."

The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they live.

Every BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in 2025.

The awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others.

Nominations can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice.

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