Hear from our Researcher and Supporters
Jo, Pledger, Dundee
Jo’s pledge
Jo is a Cancer Research UK supporter and has left a gift in his Will to Cancer Research UK.
In 1993, Jo’s wife Sue was diagnosed with a very rare cancer called a phaeochromo-cytoma, which had spread to her bones. Jo’s family were told that she had 6 months to live.
Fortunately, Sue was able to have treatment that allowed her to live a normal life, bring up her children, go back to work and travel the world.
10 years after her diagnosis, Sue sadly passed away. Jo found out that the gene that had caused her cancer was hereditary. Two of Jo’s children have the gene, and their cancers have since been operated on and are being screened regularly.
“Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.”
“I will continue to fight cancer until I pass away, so why not continue to fight cancer when I am gone?”
Jo, Pledger, Dundee
Laura’s pledge
Laura is a nurse in clinical research. She tests and evaluates new ways of treating cancer.
“Gifts left in Wills to Cancer Research UK are absolutely essential to what I do. They enable me to work clinically and support patients participating in trials. It means I can also facilitate patient and public involvement, as well as provide education and training to non-research staff around clinical trials, so they can understand the changing face of cancer care.
I have had close family and friends affected by cancer in the last few years. I have seen first hand the complete devastation that cancer diagnosis can bring. New research brings the benefit of new treatments.
"I’m immensely grateful to all those who leave a legacy in their Will to continue supporting vital work to find the best ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer.”
Laura, Research nurse, Glasgow
Paul, Pledger, London
Paul’s pledge
Paul was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2007 at the age of 34. Paul was on holiday with his fiancée Emma when he received the devastating news that he had cancer. He was immediately prescribed a drug called Glivec and continued to take this for a further 22 months.
“I am so grateful to Cancer Research UK – they carried out the early genetics work that underpinned the development of Glivec, which is an effective treatment not just against leukaemia but also against certain rare stomach cancers as well.”
Paul has recently celebrated 10 years since his diagnosis. “Emma and I now have a lovely boy called Freddie, who is five and keeps us living life to the full.”
“I have benefitted from past research and by leaving a gift in my Will I can support future discoveries.”
Duncan’s pledge
Duncan researches ‘telomeres', the structures that protect chromosomes and the genes that they contain from damage.
“Our lab has developed the highest resolution approach available to measure how long telomeres are. We are in the process of bringing this technology to cancer patients and the pharmaceutical industry. Both my parents died of cancer, for both it was very sudden and brutal.
My mother in particular went from diagnosis to death in a matter of months and had no opportunity to say goodbye to any of her family.
"It is for the many people like my parents, that I want to keep making a contribution to our understanding of cancer."
It is sobering to think that a large proportion of the funding that keeps our laboratory going has come from those who have sadly passed away, but have committed to giving to Cancer Research UK.”
Duncan, Scientist, Cardiff
Here’s what gifts in Wills have helped us achieve
For over 100 years, our doctors, scientists and nurses have been working to help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. With your support our research is saving lives.
These achievements would not have been possible without the generous support of those who have pledged to leave a gift in their Will to Cancer Research UK.
Our research has played a role in developing 8 of the world’s top 10 cancer drugs.
We’ve helped prove the link between tobacco and cancer, preventing millions of deaths worldwide.
We’ve helped prove the value of cervical screening, which now prevents thousands of deaths every year.
Cancer Research UK was a key player in the development of radiotherapy, which now benefits more than 130,000 patients every year in the UK.
Over the last 50 years, Cancer Research UK’s work has helped double breast cancer survival.