Gransnetters share the legacy they'd like to leave when they're gone with Cancer Research UK

We have not made a will as yet but when I do I will not leave anything to charity sorry but that's my personal reference i will leave to my daughter

What have you thought about leaving behind?

Yes, but its not out of date - I need to look at it and made additions and deletions

Have you detailed this in a Will?

Yes I have left a donation to several of my most loved charities, cancer research, an overseas charity and NSPCC

Would you consider leaving a gift to charity in your Will?

yes, I would, they need it more than some of my family.

Would Cancer Research UK be a consideration?

Yes it is.

How would you like people to remember you when you’re gone?

Someone whose door is always open, always has time for everybody and had a smile and kind word for everyone.

I support 4 charities every month by direct debit. When I die it is a straight split between my son and daughter. That is assuming my husband were to die first if not it would all be left to him. It is very important to make a will, My brother died intestate he was only 31 and him, his 6 week old son, his wife, her 18 year old sister and 2 friends were killed in a car crash. My parents not only had to deal with the heartach of getting my brother back from France but after the funeral etc was done they had to sort out with a solicitor his assets. This took 5 years to sort and was a nightmare. So a word to everyone please leave a will and then everything will be done in accordance to what you want.

In my will I have left everything to various animal charities as I do not have children to leave anything to. My animal companions have been one of the best things in my life and I know much support is needed by these charities.

I'm planning to leave the house but spending the rest.

My husband and I have left money in our wills to Bluebell Hospice which is local and we can see all the good work they do.

My father left half his estate to his 3 children and the other half divided equally between his 8 grandchildren. They were thrilled to get the money directly and all used it so wisely. All family members now donate to Motor Neurone as a family member has lived with its devastation for many years. At my father's funeral, a collection was made for the hospice that had cared for him and a generous donation was made.

there is no charitable donation in my will, although it was written some time ago. I'm not sure whether I would add one when if/when the will gets updated as I'm not keen on deciding a charity now as my chosen charity may change with time. I prefer to donate now to charities.

My mother in law had cancer in March, 2019. The Christie Hospital were great with her and we did think of leaving some money but had re-written our joint wills the year before. So would give a donation in a charity shop or their tubs you put your loose change into.

At the moment our five children would need their share of our estate if they are to have any hope of getting on the property ladder. This may change in the future in which case we would think again; before I had children my estate was largely left to charity.

Made a joint will years ago, not long after we married, with everything to be split three ways across our three children equally. I do ‘get’ the idea of willing money to a charity if you all feel very supportive of that particular issue but personally think that is an individual choice and will are family commitments to a future for all the family. Obviously the future is unclear, may well be nothing left if the NHS continues to falter towards collapse. I would rather trust my children than a charity to do what is right after I have gone, after all we trained THEM.

I will be leaving my estate to be shared equally between my 4 children. I support various charities now and the children are well aware of who they are so it is up to them if they want to make any donations in my name. I do not feel comfortable making bequests to charity after my death, much better to donate now.

I have a will in which I am leaving everything to my only child. I have chosen to do this as I don’t want my house to have to be sold to cover bequests, I want my family to have the choice of living in it, should they wish to do so.
However, I do support a number of charities financially on both an ongoing and one off basis, as well as volunteering for Marie Curie.

We've made a will, with everything to our children, but do try to support charities now as much as we can. My mother died recently - aged 95 - after suffering from dementia and pancreatic cancer - so we currently support charities linked to both these illnesses, making donations regularly and supporting fund-raising events.
After my death, it would be nice to know that any bits of me worth having could be 're-cycled' - so I'm perfectly happy with organ donation if anyone can make use of working parts.
I would certainly want any money remaining after my death to go to a charity rather than the taxman, so would donate money to prevent vast inheritance tax bill for my children - although somehow I don't think this will be the case, especially if we need to pay for care at any stage.
I'd like to be remembered as someone who was generous, kind and thoughtful, and who enjoyed life and the company of others.

When our mother passed of cancer in a local hospice my brother & I decided to donate an amount to the hospice that our mother had left in her will to a childless cousin of hers who had sadly died before her. We thought it was a nice gesture for the care they had provided for her in her last days & our father 20 years previously.
Personally my husband & I have a son with learning difficulties & I think our other son will benefit from having our estate left to him so he can make sure his brother is well looked after when we’ve gone so in this respect we haven’t made provisions for a charitable donation in our will but do donate regularly whilst we are here to numerous causes.

There will definitely be something left to at least one charity. Whether this will be in the form of goods or money will depend on the circumstances at death, which hopefully is some time away. An awful lot can happen in a very short time as we have seen recently in our own family. I hope I will be remembered as kind, caring and giving.

We have already done it. We already had a will but it needed updating after the birth of our two granddaughters and this spurred us on to do it. I think it is a wonderful idea that benefits others and as my sister in law has stage 4 lung cancer and is fighting cancer at the moment if feel strongly that this is the tight thing to fo

I have left all my goods to my sister and her family. I support several charities already by direct debit but want my family to have my savings at the end.

We have written a joint will every time we have sold and bought a new house. However, I'd like to think that my legacy, apart from the obvious house, cars, money is that I taught my daughters (and granddaughter) to be free thinking independent women who make their own way in life. I'm proud of who they are, and so are they. I'd also like to think that my friends would miss my warped sense of humour {grin] 25 years in the NHS I'm afraid..........

I'll leave whatever i have to my sons, i try to do my bit when / if i can, for kama & compassion.

Not everyone will have anything to leave to any charity when they die. I currently give a monthly donation to cancer research which comes out of my pension now that I am retired. I am also happy to donate small amounts on an ad hoc basis , as and when I have some spare cash.
When I die anything left goes to my two children

My husband and I created our will 15 years ago and everything is left to our son. I'm not sure how often it should be updated however if I thought that my son was financially secure at that point I might give a portion to charity too.

We have made a will each but I was seriously shocked when I read about an unfortunate case recently where a certain charity was bequeathed a percentage of some person’s will who had recently passed away. The house was to be sold to release money but unfortunately for the remaining family members, the charity refused the offers on the house sale due to it not being as high as they had hoped, meaning they wouldn’t benefit from as much cash. The poor family had to wait quite some time to benefit from the deceased family member’s will, due to the greed of the charity. I donate to small local charities regularly and had mentioned specific sums of money in my will, but when I update my will I am going to review this point after reading about the greed aspect which had been highlighted a few months ago. Nobody even gives this a thought when they are drawing up their will.

I would leave what little I have to my son as it is hard for young people to get on the property ladder .

My legacy would be always remember the glass is half full not half empty