For many years we have been proud supporters of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and we recently reinvigorated these efforts by kick-starting our participation in their Free Will Service.

Clients and supporters of CRUK who are over the age of 55 can come and see any member of our Private Client team to prepare a Will and the service will be completely free of charge, funded entirely by CRUK.

The scheme, which encourages clients to leave a legacy to CRUK, is vitally important in helping them raise the millions of pounds worth of funding that they require each year. In the tax year 2015/2016 alone, CRUK funded £404million worth of research.

To put the importance of legacies into context, in 2015/2016 CRUK raised £178million through legacies left to them through Wills and nearly one third of their funding relied on such gifts.

By preparing Wills under this scheme, the Private Client team at Fisher Jones Greenwood, have raised just over £514,000 through legacies left to CRUK. We are immensely proud of this achievement and hope to further this figure in the years to come.

Most people associate the word “legacy” with gifts of money, but when Amy Burton and Sarah Rankin went along to the laboratories at the CRUK Cambridge Institute, they discovered that the extent of these gifts come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – quite literally.

One gentleman left some land, which included the rights to a stretch of the River Ivel in Biggleswade, to CRUK under the terms of his Will when he died. Not wanting to waste an opportunity, rather than sell the land and rights to the river, CRUK explored the possibility of leasing the fishing rights on the stretch of river. They now license the use of the stream to the Biggleswade & Hichin Anglers Association, which guarantees CRUK a yearly income – with the bonus that the Association keep the steam free of weeds and the river banks in good condition. As well as guaranteeing a yearly income, the land can now be retained for long term investment. We appreciate that not everyone has a river to donate, but this is a great example of how CRUK will make the most out of any legacy left to them, no matter how weird and wonderful.

Whilst £75,000 would fund the purchase of a new microscope for a laboratory, £6 will fund the purchase of a new box of microscope slides – so it really doesn’t matter how large or small you think your legacy might be, it all helps.

If you would like to find out more about the Free Will Service then please click here to visit CRUK’s website, or alternatively click here to contact your closest Fisher Jones Greenwood office to discuss making an appointment.