A message from Emma Clarke, CEO
Our Wills say so much about who we are. They pay tribute to the family we love, the friends we cherish, and the causes that are most dear to us.
As CEO, I feel so humbled every time someone pledges a gift to us in their Will.
People choose to remember Weston Park Cancer Charity in their Will for all sorts of reasons. Some donate in memory of a friend or family member who received treatment at our hospital. Others may decide to leave a gift to commemorate their own cancer journey.
Each gift has its own story. But together, they have the power to rewrite the future of cancer care.
Weston Park Cancer Charity exists to improve the lives of people in our region who have been affected by cancer. We do this by providing emotional, financial, and practical support and by investing in high-quality research and treatment. Everything we do is driven by this vision, and we promise to be there – at every step – for the one in two of us who will face a cancer diagnosis.
Gifts in Wills have helped thousands of people in our region to access life-changing services –from hardship grants to our advice line. These
gifts enable ground-breaking clinical trials, which could change the way we tackle cancer on a global scale. They also help us to secure new equipment and enhance treatments at our incredible hospital.
If you’re considering leaving a gift to Weston Park in your Will, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you. The support you give today could transform the cancer treatments of the future.
In this guide, you’ll find practical information about how you can leave a gift in your Will. You’ll also hear first-hand from supporters and staff on the impact your gift could make.
Thank you for taking the time to read this guide. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.
Cancer changes everything. When it does, so can we.
With gratitude,
Emma Clarke, CEO
The impact of a gift in your Will
Gifts left in Wills help us to pioneer new research, enhance the hospital environment, and provide support for people living with and beyond cancer.
Enhancing treatment
Gifts left in Wills help us to improve hospital services and enhance the facilities at Weston Park Cancer Centre.
In practice, this could mean anything from refurbishing therapy suites to adding smart TVs to inpatient rooms. These small adjustments can make a big difference for people going through cancer treatment.
Most recently, gifts left in Wills enabled us to refurbish our Charity Hub. This warm, welcoming space now serves as a waiting area for patients who use our free transport service.
Providing support services
Every individual that faces a cancer diagnosis will experience their own unique challenges. That’s why our support services are so varied. From emotional support and complimentary therapies – these services help to alleviate stress for people during their most difficult days.
During 2023-24 our Cancer Support Centre hosted 1,452 drop-in appointments, enabling people to have immediate access to our support services.
Enabling research
Over the years, gifts in Wills have helped our researchers to make incredible discoveries of global significance.
In May 2023, for example, we celebrated the completion of a research project funded by one of our grants: ‘Identifying molecular drivers of dormancy in oestrogen receptorpositive breast cancer’.
Breast cancer claims 12,000 lives in the UK each year. The cancer spreads in around 20% of patients, returning several years after treatment. This is because cancer cells can stay dormant within a patient’s bone marrow, during which time they cannot be effectively detected or treated.
Through in-depth gene analysis, the researchers on this project identified key genes linked to dormancy in breast cancer cells and relapse likelihood. By funding research like this, we can take major steps towards new treatment options for cancer patients.
Gifts in Wills also support the work of the Sheffield Cancer Clinical Trials Centre. The pioneering trials we run at this facility don’t just uncover new ways to combat cancer – they also provide vital hope for patients who may have exhausted all other treatment options.
Since Weston Park Cancer Centre opened in 1970, cancer survival rates have more than doubled. By pledging your support today, you’ll help even more people to live with and beyond cancer.
Gifts in Wills fund 47% of our life-saving work.
The transport service
Too often, we hear from people who have considered turning down life-saving cancer treatments because of the cost of travelling to appointments.
That’s why we launched our free transport service.
In 2023/24, our volunteer drivers made 2,250 journeys from Barnsley, Chesterfield and Rotherham to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, travelling a total distance of over 35,000 miles (that is more than the circumference of the globe!)
With your support, we can expand this service and ensure that cancer treatment is accessible for all.
The advice line
During 2023-24, our healthcare professionals responded to 3,761 calls to our helpline and made 914 outgoing calls to check in on people affected by cancer.
These calls give people the opportunity to chat about the practical, emotional, and physical issues that cancer can bring.
A gift in your Will helps to keep this service running, so that no one living with cancer has to face their worries alone.
Hardship grants
A cancer diagnosis can have a devastating impact on your finances. You may have to stop working, and more time spent at home can lead to higher energy bills.
When you’re going through cancer treatment, the last thing you need to be thinking about is how you’ll afford the essentials. That’s why Weston Park Cancer Charity offers hardship grants, which can cover things like bills and mortgage payments. By remembering Weston Park Cancer Charity in your Will, you’ll support this crucial service for years to come.
Discover more about Weston Park Cancer Charity by visiting westonpark.org.uk/about-us
Ben’s legacy
When Ben Daly was diagnosed with bile duct cancer at just 27 years old, he embarked on an incredible fundraising journey. Here, his mum Jude, dad Ted, and younger brother George, tell his story.
“Ben was passionate about all sorts of things,” said George. “He was a bit of an escapist; he loved Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. He was also a keen cyclist and he really enjoyed sport. One thing Ben always had over me was that he made the primary school football team, which I never did!”
“We used to take the boys cycling with us on holiday,” said Jude. “To start off with Ted and I were faster. But before long they were racing ahead of us. Then they’d be the ones waiting for us at the top of the hill as we slogged our way up!”
After Ben graduated from university, he joined Sitwell Cycling Club and started riding several times a week – come rain or shine.
“He made a lot of friends at the club and became a fantastic mechanic,” said Ted. “He taught himself how to do all of his own maintenance, and he’d be the first person others would seek advice from.”
As a child, Ben had been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a liver condition which causes inflammation and scarring of the
bile ducts. In August 2020, Ben went for a liver check-up and after conducting some routine tests, his doctor noticed an unusually high level of tumour marker present in his blood.
Ben was sent for a scan, which found a 5cm tumour in his liver. He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile duct, and had to go through major surgery to remove half of his liver.
“Until that point he’d been perfectly fit and well,” said Jude. “After the surgery he lost a lot of weight, but he was determined to get stronger. We’d wake up every morning and hear his slippers on the stairs. He’d walk up and down them 30 times to build his strength up. Then he started doing laps of the park, and eventually we could go on longer walks.”
During Ben’s treatment, he started visiting the Cancer Support Centre where he was able to access massage therapy, mindfulness sessions, and get advice about applying for benefits.
“Ben looked forward to the days he spent at Weston Park Charity’s Cancer Centre, and he really appreciated all the support he got there.”
“He had a lot of pain, and I know that he found the massage therapy especially helpful for that,” said Ted. “He used to go on his own, it was something he could still do to maintain his independence.”
Tragically, after months of treatment Ben and his family received the news that his cancer had become terminal. Determined to make the most of his time, Ben decided to organise his biggest cycling challenge yet: ‘Ben’s Tour of the North.’ This epic bike ride would see him and his brother, George, cycle through the Peak District, the Lake District, the North Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales.
Originally, Ben aimed to raise £1,100 through his cycle, but before the brothers had even set off, they’d far surpassed that goal. In total, Ben’s Tour of the North raised an incredible £15,200 for Weston Park Cancer Charity.
“Ben was always very thoughtful and keen to help others, but he wasn’t one to put himself in the spotlight,” said George. “So it was a big thing for him to organise a fundraiser like this. I remember he was taken aback and touched by how much people donated.”
“When we got back on the Sunday evening there was a big group of people who had come to welcome the boys home,” said Jude. “It just felt so special – that whole week was special.”
“It was wonderful,” said Ted. “And to think he did all of that and he knew what was happening; he knew how ill he was.”
Having already made a huge impact for Weston Park Cancer Charity, Ben decided to go one step further by leaving a gift to the charity in his Will.
“Knowing that the money he’s left through his Will, will help other people, just feels right,” said Jude. “We’ve been back to the Cancer Centre in Sheffield and we’ve seen the improvements that have been made to the rooms there. Those spaces are so important for people in need of support.”
“Nobody knows quite what’s going to happen in life. You just have to get on and live every day, and that’s exactly what Ben did. He could have spent all that time feeling like he was dying. But he wasn’t dying - he was living.”
“We knew all of the different sides of Ben,” said Ted. “You couldn’t describe him in one word. But what I’d say to him is just: thank you for being Ben.”
Ben’s parents, Jude and Ted. Ben’s brother, George.
The difference you’ll make
By leaving a gift in your Will, you could transform the cancer treatments of the future. Every donation – no matter how big or small – helps to change and save lives.
Gifts in Wills fund 47% of our life-saving work. During uncertain times, they protect our services so that we can continue to be there, at every step, for people living with cancer.
Whether you choose to leave a specific sum of money or a share of your estate, your gift will make a huge impact.
Today, one in two of us will develop cancer. By remembering Weston Park Cancer Charity in your Will, you’ll help us to change those odds.
How gifts in Wills change lives
When you leave a gift in your Will, you invest in a better future for cancer patients. Here are some examples of how your donation could change and save lives.
£1,000 £300,000 £93,000 £37,000 £13,500
A gift of £1,000 would purchase lab supplies for one of our vital research projects. These projects expand our understanding of cancer and help us to develop new treatments.
By giving 10% of a £135,000 estate, you could fund our hardship grants for a full year. In 24/25, we supported over 60 people living with cancer, by providing them hardship grants. These grants help people who are struggling financially to pay for essentials like household bills, childcare costs, and mortgage payments.
A donation of £37,000 would fund our Big Purple Bus service for two months, taking our healthcare professionals, welfare advisors and specialist courses/groups into underserved areas of our region. This crucial service is helping us ensure people across South Yorkshire have equal access to our cancer support.
By pledging £93,000 you would pay for two research nurses for the Cancer Clinical Trials Centre for one year. The pioneering trials that take place at this facility uncover new ways to combat cancer and provide hope for patients both now and in the future.
Leaving a gift of £300,000 in your Will could fund future research projects and enable global change in cancer treatment. For instance, the Ex Vivo drug screening project, which Weston Park Cancer Charity supported with a £300,000 grant. The Ex Vivo research project aims to improve outcomes for cancer patients, by trialling a new technique, to better anticipate how particular patients will react to certain types of treatment.
Amanda’s message
“As a ward sister, I’ve seen first-hand the difference that gifts left in Wills make. They help us to improve the hospital environment and provide support services, so that patients can have the best possible treatment experience. They also fund vital clinical trials which help to uncover the cancer treatments of the future. By leaving a gift in your Will you’ll support people who are going through cancer right now and change lives for years to come.”
Frequently asked questions
Many people put off writing a Will. But creating your Will doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Getting this important document in order is the best way to ensure your family and friends are cared for.
What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document that lets you decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions (your ‘estate’) after your death.
It allows you to clearly set out your wishes and decide who should act as the executor of your Will.
With effective planning, a Will can also make sure that your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way.
If you don’t make a Will, the law will divide your estate according to what’s known as the rules of intestacy. These rules are very fixed and may not reflect what you’d like to happen to your money, or what’s most tax efficient.
How can I make or amend my Will?
If you want to write a Will, or make changes to your existing one, it’s always best to seek guidance from a legal professional. They will be able to discuss your circumstances and ensure that your Will covers everything you need, that your final wishes are carried out and that it also meets legal requirements. There is a risk that writing or updating a Will without professional assistance may not be legally valid.
You should review your Will every five years or so, or after any major life events, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the birth of a grandchild, reaching retirement, illness or receiving an inheritance.
How much does it cost to write a Will?
Our legal partners can guide you through every step of the Will-writing process. For costs involved and more information, see page 12 of this guide. Whilst we have partnerships with Irwin Mitchell and Wake Smith Solicitors, you are welcome to write your Will with any legal provider.
What is an executor?
The executor is the person (or people) who administers your estate after your death. They’re in charge of paying any debts, collecting the value of the estate (i.e. selling property) and distributing the inheritance to beneficiaries. Your Will should set out any procedures that they may need to follow.
A message from Amanda Traynor, Senior Sister at Weston Park Cancer Centre
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Our expert Willwriting partners
While we’ll do whatever we can to make the Will-writing process easier for you, we aren’t able to provide legal support or advice.
For any legal enquiries we will signpost you to our partners, Irwin Mitchell and Wake Smith Solicitors, who are both known for their impeccable reputation and expertise.
Our legal partners can guide you through every step of the Will-writing process and support you if you want to update an existing Will. They can also advise you on the best way to structure your Will and on how to leave a charitable donation in the most tax-efficient way.
Irwin Mitchell will donate a portion of their legal fees from any referrals made through the campaign to Weston Park Cancer Charity. All of these rates refer to their online service and include VAT.*
• One simple Will: £160 (£15 donation)
• Two simple Wills (i.e a mirror Will): £210 (£20 donation)
Find out more
Or contact: wills@irwinmitchell.com / 0808 291 4807
Wake Smith Solicitors will donate 15% of their legal fees from any referrals made through the campaign to Weston Park Cancer Charity. All of these rates refer to videocall, telephone, or face-to-face appointments.*
• One simple Will: £315 + VAT (£47.25 donation)
• Two simple Wills (a mirror Will): £500 + VAT (£75 donation)
Find out more
Or contact: WillEnquiries@wake-smith.com / 0114 224 2116
What type of Will do I need?
Simple Wills generally divide your assets into lump sums amongst your beneficiaries. Couples may choose to make ‘mirror Wills’, which are effectively identical to each other and reflect the same wishes.
Complex Wills are needed for more complicated situations, for example where partners have children from previous marriages or if you want to include trusts or business succession planning.
Our partner solicitors can help you to write both simple and complex Wills. Please get in touch with them directly for further details on complex Will pricing.
Celebrating
our legacy supporters
By using either of these services you are under no obligation to leave a gift in your Will to Weston Park Cancer Charity.
If you do choose to leave a gift to the charity in your Will, please notify us on legacy@wpcancercharity.org.uk so that we can thank you personally. Your generosity now will touch lives for generations to come.
How can I leave a charitable gift?
There are several ways in which you can remember a charity in your Will. Every donation – no matter how big or small – helps to change and save lives.
• Residuary: This is a share of your estate (e.g. 20%) after all other payments or gifts have been made.
• Pecuniary gifts: A pecuniary gift is a specific sum of money, such as £2,000.
• Specific gifts: A gift of a particular named item, such as a piece of jewellery or art.
Once you’ve ensured your friends and family are taken care of, you may choose to support Weston Park Cancer Charity in your Will. To do so, all you need is the registered charity name, registration number, and address:
• Charity name: Weston Park Hospital Development Fund Ltd
• Charity registration number: 509803
• Charity address: 23 Northumberland Road, Sheffield, S10 2TX
Next
steps
If you’ve decided to remember Weston Park Cancer Charity in your Will, then we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch with our Legacy and In Memory Fundraising Manager, Melissa, by emailing legacy@wpcancercharity.org.uk or calling 0114 553 3330 for an informal chat.
Thank you for helping us to be there, at every step, for people living with cancer.
Our promise to you
At Weston Park Cancer Charity, we ensure that every gift left in a Will is used wisely and treated with the utmost respect.
We promise to:
- Make sure your gift is used efficiently and effectively.
- Respect your right to change your Will at any time.
- Support your executor and loved ones in any way we can.
- Signpost to our expert Will-writing partners, Irwin Mitchell and Wake Smith Solicitors, if you or your executor have any legal queries.
- Keep all of your data and details safe.
“Each gift left in a Will is precious, and we’re profoundly grateful for every single one. Our promise to you is that we will work tirelessly to ensure that your gift creates the maximum impact and helps as many people as possible.”
- Paul Furbey, Director of Fundraising