Cancer Research UK relies on gifts in Wills
Overall, survival in Scotland is poorer than many other European countries. This is why research in to finding new, kinder treatments and improved tests is vital. And research requires funding.
After taking care of friends and family Jo has pledged to leave a share of his Will to Cancer Research UK, to help beat cancer for future generations.
Jo from Dundee has seen just how devastating cancer can be. Now, he’s pledged to help fund life-saving research by leaving a gift in his Will to Cancer Research UK.
“I’m leaving a legacy gift because we’ve been fighting cancer as a family since my wife was diagnosed,” Jo explains – and what a tough fight it’s been. It all began in 1993 when Sue was diagnosed with a very rare cancer of the adrenal gland. It had spread into her bones and the family were told that she had just six months to live. “This was very hard for us as our children were just young teenagers back then,” says Jo.
Despite being given six months to live, Sue was able to have treatment that allowed her to live for 10 more years and be there for her family. She even got the chance to realise her dreams of travelling across the globe with Jo.
It was a devastating blow to the family when Sue passed away, and several years later they discovered that the genetic mutation that caused her cancer was hereditary. Jo’s youngest children, twins Jennie and James, also had the faulty gene and went on to develop the disease. James’ cancer has since been operated on and Jennie has received targeted radiotherapy. Last March, the family also found out that Jennie’s tumours had spread to her bones.
Lasting donation
For Jo, and countless people across the UK, the fight against cancer is far from over. In fact, one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get the disease in their lifetime. “I hope the gift in my Will can help find a way of treating people who have the rare SDHB mutation,” says Jo.
“Cancer Research UK will get 20% of my estate, which means it is inflation proof and I think that is very important. I will continue to fight cancer until I pass away, so why not continue to fight cancer when I am gone?”
Gifts in Wills fund over a third of Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research. These vital legacies, together with the commitment of the researchers to make progress, are so important to helping those in the future who face cancer.
To find out more, get your free Gifts in Wills guide here.
Together we will beat cancer.
*Based on the average annual number of new cases of all cancers combined excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD10 C00-C97 excl.C44) diagnosed in Scotland between 2015 and 2017.