Why Chris is leaving a gift to us in his Will
Friday 6 October 2023
After Chris’ wife Jane died from bowel cancer earlier this year, Chris shares the promise he and his late wife made to support charities.
My wife Jane undertook a routine bowel screening test and was asked to attend a clinic, where she was told that she had bowel and peritoneal cancer. We attended many consultations at both Nottingham and Basingstoke hospitals and we learned that any operation was impossible and only chemotherapy was an option, which we all know is quite debilitating. From scans, it was clear that the chemotherapy was ineffective in reducing the cancers, and Jane unfortunately passed away in April 2023.
She wanted funeral donations to go to Bowel Cancer UK and we opened a Star of Hope Tribute Fund page in remembrance, where we raised a significant amount of money in place of floral tributes.
Jane and I had spoken many times over her last months about gifts and legacies in Wills, particularly what to include in my Will. We made a promise to include a number of charities that were dear to our hearts and these are included in my final Will and estate. From first-hand experience, I can say that bowel cancer is extremely traumatic for both the patient and loved ones. It’s not as high profile as other forms of cancer, but the effects are just as deadly. We both realised this, and wanted to play our part in helping to fund further research by leaving this gift in my Will.
From little acorns great trees grow, and I hope the many gifts bequeathed to Bowel Cancer UK will go towards research projects and in the fullness of time, we may be fortunate enough to find a cure for both bowel and peritoneal cancer. If not a total cure, then at least further treatments that will enable patients to live longer with their loved ones. It’s obviously too late for Jane, but we both wanted to help others in the future.
Taking care of family members and loved ones in a Will is always at the forefront, but maybe a gift to a charity like Bowel Cancer UK will help them in the future as well. Estates in Wills can be quite significant and I do believe there’s enough to do good for all. Leaving a gift to charity is so gratifying and loved ones should be proud of you for doing so. Please don’t hesitate to leave a charitable gift. You’ll be glad you did, as it will be put to great use.
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