Made possible by your legacy: Every gift makes a difference
Legacy giving isn’t about what you leave behind, it’s about what you make possible.
A gift in your will can help someone with cancer hold on to the everyday passions that make them who they are, even in the toughest moments. From gardening to cycling, music to time with family, these moments of joy are what your legacy can protect.
Over a third of our services are funded by gifts in wills. By choosing to remember Macmillan in your will, you are helping fund vital support which enables people living with cancer to keep living fully. To do what they love, and feel like themselves. This is the power to continue, made possible by you.
We partnered with Our Media to create a series of articles showing how legacy gifts to Macmillan Cancer Support help people with cancer continue enjoying their passions.
Angela’s story: how music helped her feel like herself again
When Angela was diagnosed with secondary cancer in January 2025, she was given a challenging prognosis. Having already undergone treatment for breast cancer six years earlier, discovering that the cancer had returned was a devastating moment.
A keen singer in her twenties, Angela had set aside performing jazz for her career in TV. Her cancer journey gave her the courage to find a band and book a gig. Music has also given her a renewed sense of control over her life.
‘Actively engaging with sound and music allowed me to feel like I was taking back control and making sense of what was going on at quite a deep level.’
Happily, Angela has responded well to treatment. Angela says she benefited from; the ‘reassurance, kindness and guidance’ of Macmillan Cancer Support. Its services helped her find quality of life through her creative pursuits during the most difficult time.
Roger’s story of resilience through cycling: making time for the things that matter
When lifelong cyclist Roger was diagnosed first with prostate cancer and then primary breast cancer in 2023, it wasn’t his first experience of the disease. His wife, Ruth, had sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2017.
As soon as he had recovered from his prostatectomy, he had a mastectomy and was prescribed Tamoxifen. Roger recalls the side effects of Tamoxifen as being “horrendous".
Having already experienced the practical and emotional support provided by Macmillan Nurses following his wife’s diagnosis, Roger turned again to Macmillan. This time seeking help to cope with the side effects of his medication and the dark place he found himself.
I turned to Macmillan for help,” he recalls, “and they organised counselling and put me in touch with the Men's Virtual Meet-Up (VMU).”
Emerging from a darker period in his life with the help of counselling, the guidance of Macmillan and the support of the Men’s VMU, Roger found he could return to sport – cycling and spending time outdoors.’
For Roger, cycling became a powerful way to reconnect with what truly matters after a cancer diagnosis. In his article in BikeRadar, Roger shares how making time for cycling not only brought him physical relief but also helped him rediscover joy and purpose during a difficult time.
Kate’s story: from diagnosis to designing spaces of hope,
For Kate, a cancer diagnosis changed the way she saw the world and the way she wanted to move through it. While she navigated treatment and the emotional weight that came with it, she found the Horizon Centre. It’s a place that offered her the space, calm and compassionate support she needed. It quickly became somewhere she could breathe, reflect, and start to connect with the things that gave her strength.
“The Horizon Centre was a place that gave me space. I have friends who design gardens and the idea began to percolate that this was something that I could do too. Cancer gave me a new focus and desire to create gardens that make a difference.”
Surrounded by compassionate support and inspired by the natural world, Kate discovered a renewed sense of purpose. Her diagnosis didn’t just deepen her appreciation for the restorative power of nature. It sparked a desire to create spaces that could offer others the same peace, reflection and connection she found during her toughest moments.
Michael’s story: a legacy honouring his mum, Linda
“I felt like I needed to do something for a cause that’s close to my heart,” Michael explains. His decision was shaped by the strength and love of his mum, Linda, who continues to receive support from Macmillan at the Irene Crosswell Wellbeing Lounge in Milton Keynes. This is a space they both genuinely look forward to visiting together.
Inspired by the kindness and warmth they’ve experienced at the Wellbeing Lounge, Michael chose to leave a gift in his will. He did this to ensure that more people can benefit from the same compassionate support. Using Macmillan’s Free Will Service, he found the process refreshingly simple: “You think you’re going to a solicitor in a dusty office… 45 minutes on a Teams call and it was done. It was fantastic.”
Leave a legacy of hope: empower others to live life fully
Every one of these powerful stories highlights just how essential it is to make time for the things that matter most. Whether it’s pursuing a passion or finding moments of joy with the people you love. But these passions, journeys, and moments of healing wouldn’t be possible without the vital support provided by Macmillan Cancer Support. This support is made possible through the generosity of people like you.
When you choose to leave a gift in your will to Macmillan, you’re directly funding the services that give people the time and space to focus on what truly matters. Your legacy helps others access emotional and physical support which will allow them to continue living fully, even in the most difficult moments.
This includes Roger accessing the support he needed to manage his symptoms, allowing him to get back on his bike. Or providing Angela with the care she required to navigate her appointments, giving her more time to focus on her passion for music. Your legacy will make all the difference to people who need similar support in the future. By leaving a gift in your will, you will empower others to live life on their own terms, no matter the challenges they face.