Your guide to leaving
a gift in your will
Your gift could make sure everyone
affected by lymphatic cancer gets the right
support and information they need, when
they need it – for years to come.
Supporting people affected by lymphatic cancer
‘Life’s most
persistent and urgent
question is, “what are
you doing for others?’’’
Martin Luther King Jr
For many of us, our will is the chance to look after
our family and friends once we have gone, to leave
something behind that helps the people we love. But
leaving a gift in our will also gives us an incredible and
enduring opportunity to help others we may never even
know. Beyond our own lifetimes and in ways that can
truly change lives for the better.
‘The Lymphoma Association
is a very worthwhile organisation’.
‘I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 1983
when there was no Lymphoma Association, so very
little in the way of information, comfort or support.
Thankfully we all got through this worrying time.
But when I look at the variety of support which the
Lymphoma Association provides today for patients,
their families and friends I am so pleased that
anyone who is in a similar position has access to
such comprehensive and accurate information about
lymphatic cancers and most importantly a friendly
voice to talk to at a worrying and confusing time.
The Lymphoma Association is a very worthwhile
organisation and one which my wife and I have been
delighted to support and are very happy to support in
the future – even after our deaths. With this in mind
we have been keen to create a legacy in favour
of the Association.’
Graham, supporter since 2002
People with lymphoma, their
families and their friends – all
are our priority. As the NHS
continues to change and evolve,
we can expect lymphoma
treatment and management to
move on beyond what we know
now. Our commitment to the
people we exist to help means we
must continually listen to them
and to health professionals
about what more we can
do and how else we
can help.
One of the Lymphoma Association’s major strengths
has been the ability to look ahead to understand the
potential future needs of patients and their families
and friends, and to try to seize the opportunities that
lie ahead to improve the lives of those affected by
lymphoma. We have achieved a lot over the past three
decades but we know there is much more we can
and need to do in the future.
‘Even to this day, nothing compares with being
given a cancer diagnosis. It was the worst day of
my life. On a Google search that same day, I found
the Lymphoma Association and I honestly don’t
know what I would have done without them.’
Lynn
In our 30 year history, the Lymphoma Association has
put people affected by lymphatic cancer at the heart of
everything we do. We began life in the dining room of a
patient, Tim Hilder, who had the vision and drive to start
up the Hodgkin’s Disease Association for people like
him who couldn’t get the support and information they
needed about their illness. Today, our mission remains a
simple one: to provide information and support to those
affected by lymphoma and to give them a voice.
We’ve made a commitment to vigorously pursue ways
in which we can support people suffering because of
lymphoma, and by leaving a gift in your will you can
make that commitment too.
‘Together we can make
a world where cancer no
longer means living with
fear, without hope, or worse.’
Patrick Swayze
Knowledge empowers people and gives them more
confidence to deal with their illness. The Lymphoma
Association provides a highly specialised range of
services to help the 75,000 people in the UK with
lymphoma, their families and friends.
Our helpline team responds to
approximately 7,000 calls and
emails every year from people who
are often devastated and confused
by their own or a loved one’s
cancer diagnosis. We send tens of
thousands of information booklets
to patients, carers and to cancer
centres across the UK.
Our helpline
These original services of providing
team responds to
information and support to lymphoma
approximately 7,000
patients were the vision of our founder
calls and emails
Tim Hilder and his wife, Felicity. But
every year
thanks to our supporters, our work has
changed and grown significantly since
those early days in the Hilder’s dining room.
Today these highly regarded and professional services
continue to help people with lymphoma and those
who love and support them.
What we do:
•Provide a telephone helpline and live chat over
the website for people who have been recently
diagnosed, or anyone who is worried or has
questions about lymphoma.
•The Lymphoma Association buddy scheme provides
a vital link for people affected by lymphoma with
someone who has been through a similar experience.
•Provide a comprehensive range of patient
information on lymphoma-related topics. Our
patient information has won numerous awards
and is accredited by the Department of Health’s
Information Standard.
•Run an annual Lymphatic Cancer Awareness
Week to raise the profile of lymphoma on a
national level, and to help us advocate for
lymphoma patients and their needs.
•Because lymphoma is the most common cancer
in the under 30s, we run our PITS (Persistent
lumps, Itching, Tiredness and Sweating) campaign
for young people. We attend approximately 10
university freshers’ fairs each autumn.
•Provide an online training resource for GPs in
collaboration with the Royal College of General
Practitioners, enabling them to have access
to specialised information on lymphoma diagnosis
and treatment. The aim? To help patients
get earlier diagnoses.
•Train doctors and nurses through
the provision of masterclasses,
study days and conferences.
•Run regional information events
for people affected by lymphoma,
so that people can more easily
access the latest information
and research on lymphoma
management and treatment.
•Provide our ‘Live Your Life’ well-being
programme, delivered by nurses
and online, for people after treatment has finished.
It is designed to help people feel less isolated, look
to the future and improve their quality of life.
But it’s not just about what we already do. Our
future plans will always be influenced by what is
happening in the lymphoma world. Whether that is
the development of new drugs or other treatments,
or the services provided - or cut - by national and
local health service providers. The needs of people
‘Things don’t have
to change the world
to be important.’
Steve Jobs
affected by lymphatic cancer will change over time and
often because of things that are outside their control.
With that in mind, we must continue to be agile and
responsive to the changing climate in which we work
so that we can support the people who depend on our
services in the most effective ways possible.
We will continue to look
outwards, to identify needs and
to make sure people are getting
the very best support and care
they can. We know there are
gaps and we will look to develop
new services over the next few
years, including the provision of
personalised online information
and a counselling service. By
leaving us a gift in your will,
this can be your legacy too.
‘I’ve been working with the
Lymphoma Association since 2006
when the clinical nurse specialist
service was set up thanks to the
Lymphoma Association helping to
fund my role. I’ve seen the clinic grow
in size and now our team has two fulltime and one part-time clinical nurse
specialists. Our patient numbers
coming through clinic can be up to
100 per week, from 30 nine years ago.’
Micaela and her colleagues see patients every day who
have battled with their illness and who simply couldn’t
have coped without the support of the Association.
‘We’re there when people receive their diagnosis
and provide support from there on. People are often
stunned and forget to ask questions of their doctor
during consultation. I always mention the Lymphoma
Association to people as the written information they
provide is such high quality. I use it every day. I also
encourage people to access their buddy scheme which
is a great service. Knowing someone has been through
the same thing can be invaluable for patients.’
Micaela and her colleagues have an absolutely vital role
in giving patients the support, hope and encouragement
they need to continue on what is a very frightening and
emotional journey.
‘We have the time to talk with people. We often get the
hard questions after people have had a consultation with
their doctor; “How long have I got?”, “How will I die?”,
As a small organisation, every legacy
to the Lymphoma Association
really does make a difference.
£500 could pay
For example, just £500 could
for ten nurses to
pay for ten nurses to attend one
attend one of our
of our study days. £5,000 could
study days
pay for 25 patients to attend a
‘Live Your Life’ course following
their treatment. Larger gifts have the
potential to fund new areas of work like a
counselling service or more training for doctors and
nurses. No matter the size, leaving a gift in your will is
a great way to support us. It costs nothing during your
lifetime, yet it represents a tangible commitment to
the future of the people who need us. And the
fact is we rely on legacies. At times they’ve
accounted for almost a third of our income and
have even saved our services from being cut.
You may think that once you’ve made provision for your
family and friends there won’t be anything of value left,
Micaela Plucinski is a lymphoma clinical
nurse specialist at UCLH. She provides
expert knowledge and support for patients.
“How do I tell my children?” As a clinical nurse specialist
I aim to be one step ahead of the patient, preparing them
for each stage. If I’ve made their journey a little easier I
feel I’ve done my job well.
I always make a point of directing people to the Lymphoma
Association, particularly if there’s something specific I
know they do that the patient would find helpful. For
instance, if someone is feeling isolated I will mention the
support groups and the buddy scheme. Many people
look at my badge and a conversation starts about the
charity. Lots say things like “Sue on the helpline was so
supportive”. Your legacy will help fund more services that
give hope and support to patients and their families”.
‘If we always helped
one another, no one
would need luck.’
Sophocles
but even a very small percentage of what’s left can go a
long way to helping people with lymphoma and their loved
ones cope with the illness. We know that your will is your
own private matter. But if you’re able to include us after
taking care of your family and friends, you’ll help empower
people facing lymphoma in the future to face it with more
confidence, strength and knowledge.
Making a will needn’t be difficult or daunting, and making
that decision to include us in it will help literally thousands
of people affected by lymphoma in years to come.
Why make a will?
1. Your will is one of the most important documents
you will ever write. It is the only way you decide who
will inherit your assets and can also minimise the
impact of inheritance tax. Without one, the law will
decide who will benefit after your death, and this
may not be in line with your wishes.
2. If you have young children, the only way to ensure
they would be looked after by people you would
choose in the event of the death of both their
parents, is to specify this in your will.
3. It needn’t be complicated or costly. A basic will
can be written in about an hour. It is advisable to seek
professional guidance from a solicitor. You can do a
search for solicitors in your area on the Remember
A Charity website www.rememberacharity.org.uk/
making-a-will or contact The Law Society
www.thelawsociety.org.uk.
4. Almost 60%* of people in the UK regularly
support charities. But only a little over 14%** leave a
gift to charitable causes in their will. If we all left a small
gift to charity after loved ones had been taken care of,
the potential for charitable work would be enormous.
In fact just a 4% increase would generate around
£80million extra for good causes in the UK every
year – that’s the equivalent of a Comic Relief and
a Children in Need campaign added together.***
Source: CAF’s ‘UK Giving 2012/13 – an update…’
Source: Remember a Charity’s Strategic Plan 2014 – 2018
***
Source: Remember a Charity’s Strategic Plan 2014 –
2018 states that £2billion is generated in the UK
each year from gifts in wills. 4% of this equals
£80million. In 2014 Children in Need raised
£32.6m (source BBC entertainments
news) and Comic Relief raised £51.2m
(source www.comicrelief.com).
*
**
‘All of the services that the
Lymphoma Association provides
for patients and their family and
friends are essential. Each person
is treated as an individual and
they understand that everyone
needs different types of support
and help – this is what makes
them so special.’
Rachel
Reasons to leave a legacy to the
Lymphoma Association.
It’s quite simple. Gifts in wills mean
we can continue to help people
affected by lymphoma now and in
We will spend
the future. They can account for a
your money wisely
large percentage of our income and
and only on our
there are times in the past where
charitable
without them, we would have had
activities
to cut our services. We receive no
government funding and so rely on our
supporters and their generosity.
1. We’re a small charity and any legacy, whatever
the size, will have an impact on our work.
2. We are a specialist organisation and the UK’s only
charity solely dedicated to those affected by lymphoma.
If lymphoma has affected your life, our services can
provide those similarly affected in the future with the
support and information they need.
3. We will respect your wishes both during your
lifetime and after you have died.
4. It’s quick and easy. Once you’ve made the decision
to include us in your will it takes a moment to do so.
We love that people are willing to do incredible things
for us; run marathons, jump out of planes and even cycle
from one country to another to raise funds vital for our
work. But if that’s not your thing – or even if it is – you
could leave us a small gift in your will which will be just
as effective, without having to leave the comfort of
your armchair.
Our promise
to you
If you decide to do something
amazing and leave us a gift in your
will, we want you to know that:
1. We understand that you’ll want to take care
of your loved ones first.
2. Your gift really will make a difference – it costs
just £22 to answer a helpline call and undertake any
follow-up the caller might need. £70 will train and
support a buddy for one year. Even a modest gift will
help someone who is struggling with a lymphoma
diagnosis.
3. Your gift will ensure we can go on answering
the phones and training our volunteers and health
professionals.
4. You don’t have to tell us that you’ve decided to
include us in your will, but if you do we can make
sure we don’t ask you again.
5. Even if you’ve already made your will, you can still
include us in it by attaching a codicil. This is just a note
to show an amendment to your existing will to include
whomever you choose, meaning you can keep it
up-to-date.
6. You can change your mind. It’s your will, and you
can change it at any time. It’s always your decision.
Until there is a cure for lymphoma, the need
for our services will continue to exist. If you
are able to consider leaving a legacy to the
Lymphoma Association, it will be very
much appreciated. Thank you.
‘No one has ever become
poor by giving.’
Anne Frank
Lymphoma Association, PO BOX 386, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2GA
Legacies 01296 619419
www.lymphomas.org.uk/legacies
Registered charity no 1068395