With not long left to live, Rob McCann has decided to open a bookstore and sell 4,000 books, all to reach one goal.
When Rob McCann was told that he didn’t have long left to live, he didn’t hide away, he opened a bookshop. Tucked away in Kent, in the village of Sutton Valence, Capelli’s Books is unlike any other bookstore. Every book on its shelves once belonged to Rob, and each book sold helps to raise funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice, where he is now spending the rest of his days.
Facing the End, He Started Something New
When most people are told they only have weeks to live, their world understandably stops. Everything around them ceases to matter.
But not Rob McCann.
After being given a cancer diagnosis in 2023, Rob did something bold and entirely unique: he opened a bookshop.
In Sutton Valence, Kent, Capelli’s Books (named after a nickname of Rob’s) is no ordinary shop. It’s filled with over 4,000 books from Rob’s personal collection. Not because he’s trying to clear out his home, but because he’s got one thing on his mind: a mission. A mission with heart. Every single penny made from selling these books goes to the Heart of Kent Hospice, the place now helping him navigate his final chapter.
His goal? To raise £50,000 and give back to the place he says makes him feel “safe and cared for.”
Once Good with Money, Always Good with Money
Before cancer flipped everything upside down, Rob had recently retired from a long career as an accountant. But retirement didn’t mean putting his feet up, though. Instead, he started helping out at the hospice in a finance role. He quickly became fond of the hospice and all the folk who worked there.
Then, heartbreakingly, in 2023, Rob received his diagnosis. With seemingly only a little time left, he was offered a bed at the same hospice he’d once worked for. He took it, but only on the proviso that Freddie, his dog, could join him. The hospice agreed immediately, and he moved in. Not only have the hospice staff made his life easier, but they’ve provided his partner with counselling, too, easing the pain she feels as best they can.
It was a surreal full-circle moment. But instead of letting the disease define his last days, Rob got to work. Pretty quickly, he was organizing, sorting, planning, and ultimately opening up a shop that would let him give back to the place that has made this whole ordeal just that little bit easier for him and his loved ones.
A Bookshop with Soul
Walking into Capelli’s Books is like walking into someone’s living room. Well, if that someone were a passionate reader with a wildly eclectic taste. The shelves are filled with everything from science fiction to local history, classic novels to obscure titles you’d never find in a chain store. It’s absolutely the kind of place you browse in for hours and walk out with something you didn’t know you needed.
Rob had been collecting books for decades, including many from charity shops, boot fairs, and small sellers. Some were bought just because he wanted to support local businesses. Others were old friends, stories he’d read and loved.
It’s clear from the second you see Capelli’s that it isn’t just about the books. No, it’s about connection. Rob chats with customers, shares stories, and tells them where the money’s going. Many leave with a book and a smile, knowing they’ve supported something that matters.
The Importance of Hospice
Hospices are all too often misunderstood. Lots of people think of them as gloomy, clinical places, but Rob’s story paints a completely different picture. He describes the Heart of Kent Hospice as a place “full of life, warmth, and support.”
That’s why the fundraising goal means so much to him. He’s aiming for a whopping £50,000, which will be a huge help to the hospice, allowing them to continue to provide the stellar service that they’ve given both Rob and his partner. Every book he sells chips away at that target, marking one more person who has become a part of his heartwarming journey.
But it’s not just that. Rob is challenging how we think about illness and death. He’s challenging decades of preconceived notions. He’s not hiding away, he’s not withdrawing, he’s showing up. He’s living his life as fully as he can, laughing with visitors at Capelli’s and putting good back into the world. He’s being brave, the quiet type of brave that doesn’t go viral, that may not make international headlines—but should.
Rob’s story isn’t just about books or cancer. It’s not even just about fundraising or hospice care. Rob is an icon, a reminder that, at the end of the day, what truly matters is how we choose to spend our time on this planet. Some people chase bucket lists, some people plan exotic trips, some just live their normal lives, loving their loved ones. Rob chose to do just that, and, with this last little piece of his time, he’s chosen to give back. He’s opened his heart (and his living room!) to strangers, and has reminded all of us that there’s beauty in bravery, and in generosity.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
