Jennifer Melly Law and Cancer Research UK join forces to offer free Wills for the New Year

Perhaps 2018 is the year to include “Write My Will” on your list of New Year Resolutions. If so, we would be delighted to help ensure that your wishes turn into reality; and if you are aged 55 and over we can offer our will writing services free of charge through a unique partnership the firm has established with Cancer Research UK.

Through this unique partnership, anyone aged 55 and over is able to make or amend their will free of charge with the help of one of our specialist will writing solicitors. We are able to provide guidance and precise wording for gifts to Cancer Research UK which can be directed towards research into types of cancer or research conducted at specific centres. Those who take up this offer will be asked to consider leaving a legacy gift to Cancer Research UK but there is no obligation to do so.

In addition to funding the work of research teams based in Cardiff and Swansea, Cancer Research UK funds 14 research nurses across Wales, working alongside doctors to look after patients who are taking part in clinical trials. The charity receives no government funding for its research and relies on the generosity of people leaving gifts in their wills. Over a third of its research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is funded through supporters leaving a legacy to the charity.

Last year Cancer Research UK spent around 4 million pounds in Wales on some of the UK`s leading scientific and clinical research working with Cardiff University, Cardiff and Vale Health Board and Velindre NHS Trust. The research is currently focused on bowel, breast, urological and prostate cancers, as well as leukaemia.

Jennifer Melly, Head of the Private Client department at the firm explained: “We all reach a stage in our lives when we look ahead and consider how best we can support our loved ones and favourite causes through provision in our will. It might be the right time for some people to add “Write my will” to their list of New Year Resolutions. It is never too early to start planning for these things.

“Through our partnership with Cancer Research UK we will be offering the services of specialist will writing solicitors to anyone aged 55 and over to ensure that their wishes are worded precisely.”

Jennifer added: “We have been working closely with Cancer Research UK to offer this service for some time now. Over the years we have helped supporters of Cancer Research UK pledge gifts worth more than 350,000 thousand pounds to the charity.

“By offering our will writing services to local people free of charge we are doing our bit to help Cancer Research UK and its supporters to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment for generations to come. Writing your Will is something many people put off doing so we are very keen to support anyone who wishes to finally get around to making a new will or amending an old one.”

Clare Moore, Director of Legacies at Cancer Research UK said: “One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. To improve outcomes we must continue to fund research into better preventative measures, early diagnosis and treatment. Without the money we receive from gifts in wills the progress we are making through research would be significantly slower.

“We are always extremely grateful to anyone who leaves a gift in their will to Cancer Research UK. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and the work of Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of that progress.”

For more information about leaving a legacy gift and the Cancer Research UK free will service, visit www.cruk.org/freewillservice , or call Jennifer Melly Law on 01639 63 00 57 (Neath) or 02921 67 29 39 (Cardiff).