Linda, Christie supporter

When Linda’s husband David was being treated at The Christie, the art room in the hospital offered her the strength and space she needed to support him.

As Linda learned, dealing with cancer can be a challenging and emotional experience for everyone involved – not just the patients themselves. Linda found inspiration in the art room, a service that The Christie Charity funds.

Here, Linda tells her story about her personal connection to The Christie, and why she decided to leave a gift in her Will to The Christie Charity.

The gift in my Will to The Christie Charity is a thank you for the support and help that my husband and I both received. It was so important for me to get everything right.

Making my Will was a lot easier than I expected. When I first spoke to The Christie Charity about my wishes, I found out that they have a dedicated member of the team specifically for gifts in Wills called Hannah, who is friendly, considerate and supportive. She listened carefully and clearly understood how much my gift means to me. Hannah gave me the key details to take to my solicitor and then everything was sorted.

When deciding what to do about my Will, I started by making a list of everyone and everything I cared about the most. I jotted down the key people and moments that shaped my life. Once I had made a list of the people and causes that I wanted to include in my Will, I thought about whether to give a specific gift, such as a painting, a fixed amount or a share of my estate. I chose my executors, discussed my wishes with my family and Hannah at The Christie Charity, then found a local solicitor on the Law Society website. Once my Will reflected my wishes, I felt much better knowing I’d done what was right for me.

For me, it feels right, and because it feels right, it is right.

Whether it’s a quick phone call, an email or meeting up, The Christie Charity have always been there when I need them. I’ve always felt I can speak to Hannah in confidence about my wishes, and everything is managed sensitively. 

I was keen to receive updates about the charity’s long-term plans for the future and it has been fascinating to come along to events at The Christie to find out more about how my gift will one day change lives.

There was absolutely no pressure for me to share my wishes with The Christie Charity and I knew that everything would be managed with sensitivity. I could have remained anonymous when requesting information about gifts in Wills if I’d have wanted, but I chose to share my wishes because I know it helps the charity with long-term planning to have an idea of how many people are considering a gift in their Will. I also hope that sharing my wishes publicly will prompt others to think about their Will too and how it might reflect the people and the causes closest to their heart.

By including a gift in your Will to The Christie Charity, you can help future generations of people across the UK have the treatments that give them the best outcomes and the best quality of life.

If you would like to pass on hope to people with cancer, find out more about including a gift towards the next generation of cancer treatments in your Will on our gifts in Wills pages.