A MERSEYSIDE woman who suffers from muscular dystrophy has pledged her house to two local children’s charities.

Joan Boffey, who has suffered from the muscle wasting condition since she was a child, will leave her £140,000 property in Thornton to Claire House Hospice in Wirral and baby hospice Zoe’s Place when she dies.

The 49-year-old, whose husband, mother and father have all died, said she and her mother, Josie, had agreed whichever of them lived longest would make their will donating the property to the charities.

Joan, who is wheelchair-bound, said leaving the property to Claire House will be her legacy after she dies herself.

She wants to help the charity to raise the £2.5m needed each year to keep the hospice running.

She said: “It’s sad they don’t get what they need from the government, it is for children after all.

“I never had children myself, although I wanted them, and this is my way of doing something. After the death of my family, I had to think about who to leave my assets to and in particular my house.

“Claire House is such an important charity, there was no facility like that when I was young.

“I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when I was seven and my family would have welcomed a support network such as Claire House.

“Therefore, I wanted to do as much as possible to help them. Also, I don't have children of my own so this is a way of helping other children.”

She said the donation to Zoe’s Place, based in Liverpool, was her mother’s wish. The charity offers palliative respite and terminal care for children up to the age of five.