Changing the future, one legacy at a time: Beverley's story
"She was so grateful that Macmillan were always there in the background, offering support when she needed it."
Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way to shape the future of cancer care. At Macmillan, gifts in wills fund more than a third of our vital services, meaning every legacy helps us be there for people when they need us most.
Someone is diagnosed with cancer at least every 75 seconds across the UK, and these extraordinary gifts make it possible for us to stand alongside people living with cancer, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. By leaving a gift to Macmillan in your will, you can help protect the future of cancer care and ensure that no one faces cancer alone.
Every legacy gift begins with a personal story: one of love, determination, and the hope of making a world better for others.
A legacy with lasting impact: Beverley Aris
We spoke to sister, Valerie, who shared the story of Beverley’s cancer journey and the impact Macmillan had on their family. With Beverley no longer here to share her story, Valerie honoured her memory by recounting the moments that inspired Beverley to leave such a generous gift in her will.
Beverley spent her early childhood in St Albans, Hertfordshire, before her family made Wroughton, Wiltshire, their home when she was 9 years old. From a young age, her life was shaped by her deep bond with animals. In her lifetime, she rescued 13 dogs and owned 3 horses, her first being her very own pony Goldie, at just 16.
Beverley’s strength was tested in 2007, when she was first diagnosed with cervical cancer. After medical treatment and the comforting support of a Macmillan nurse, she began to recover. The support didn’t stop there, as Beverley continued to receive phone calls from Macmillan, checking in and reassuring her throughout remission.
“She was so grateful that Macmillan were always there in the background, offering support when she needed it”. Valerie explained.
For the Aris family, Macmillan’s kindness and care had already been a meaningful presence in their lives. When their father, Arthur, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Macmillan was there for him and the whole family.
“He had such fantastic support. The Macmillan nurses were there for us all and accepting of everything he wanted to do in that difficult time”, Valerie explained, when speaking about her father’s use of meditation and mindfulness to cope. “All three of us, his daughters, saw that and felt that Macmillan made a huge difference to his end-of-life care.”
Their mother, Maisie, also had the support of Macmillan nurses during her final days in hospital.
In 2024, Beverley started experiencing symptoms that felt all too familiar. After being in and out of hospital for some time, she was given the heartbreaking news that her cancer had returned. This moment would mark the start of a challenging journey ahead for Beverley and her sisters.
Now retired, Valerie took on the primary responsibility of caring for Beverley, with younger sister Hilary still working. She spent weekdays and nights with Beverley at home and in hospital, with Hilary taking over at weekends. “I wanted to be there for her, but it was a traumatic experience” Valerie recalled.
It was then that they found themselves facing an unexpected challenge. “I asked if there was a Macmillan nurse that could support Beverley. They said no, we don't have any more available in this hospital, which surprised and disappointed me” Valerie explained. Soon after, Beverley moved into a hospice, where she thankfully received excellent end of life care.
Beverley had felt the benefit of Macmillan’s care earlier in her cancer journey, but the same support wasn’t available to her at the hospital, nearing the end of her life. Beverley’s story reflects the reality that how right now, cancer care in the UK isn’t fair. Not everyone is able to get the support they need, when they need it.
It was this experience that led Beverley to make an inspiring and impactful decision. She chose to leave a significant part of her estate to Macmillan in her will, guided by her hope that future patients would not face the same variations in care or gaps in support that she had seen.
Beverley sadly passed away on the 29th of August 2024, aged just 66 years old. She left an extraordinary gift of £97,255.50 to Macmillan in her will.
A gift of this size could help fund the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line for one week, giving around 700 people specialist information on treatment, side effects, living with cancer and coping with grief.
“Everybody that knew her said what a lovely lady she was, so kind and gentle. She was such a free spirit.” says Valerie.
A gift that lives on
Find out more about leaving a gift in your will
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