The impact of leaving a gift in your Will

"I was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. I had 4 operations, and started chemo in 2013, all the Macmillan nurses were fantastic. The care and kindness that they gave me was so amazing.

Myself and my husband decided that we would leave money in our will to Macmillan, around 5 years ago. I just hope and pray that what I can leave in my will, will help Macmillan to carry on with the wonderful work that they do."

"My family have been affected by cancer on numerous occasions. Seeing so many family members face cancer was a massive reason why we decided to leave a gift in our will to Macmillan."

"My husband and I had been putting off writing a will, mostly due to us not wanting to face a difficult conversation, but after realising how easy it was to use Macmillan's Free Will Service, I knew it was time to put our wishes on paper 'officially' and write our will. The process was easy once we had made time to do it.

"We don't always have money to donate regularly but including a great charity like Macmillan in our will gave us a sense of pride, and reassurance that we have made a slight difference to the future."

When we look back over our lives, we think about the things that matter most to us; our family, our friends and our community. By choosing to leave a gift to Macmillan in your will, you'll make a difference to the lives of those that need it most, as well as your loved ones after you've gone.

You may have been affected by cancer yourself, cared for a loved one with cancer or have friends or family that have been affected by a diagnosis. Whatever your connection, you'll know how much it can turn someone's world upside down.

With more and more people living with cancer each year, your gift is needed more than ever. The number of people living with cancer is increasing by 3.2% every year. By 2030, an estimated 4 million people are expected to be living with the disease. As the number of people diagnosed increases, so does the need for our services.

A gift in your will could help ensure that we can continue to be there for this future need. Whether you choose to leave a fixed sum or a percentage of your estate (the value of everything you own), your help will make a huge difference. With your help, we can continue to provide the clinical, financial and emotional support that's so incredibly important for those living with cancer.

When William Macmillan died of cancer in 1911, his son Douglas Macmillan wanted to do something to help others affected by cancer. His father had given him £10 just before he died and it was with this money that he set up the charity that would later be known as Macmillan Cancer Support. This single and very special gift was the seed needed to grow Macmillan to a charity that now helps over 6.7 million people affected by cancer each year.