Leave a gift in your will to the Royal Free Charity and become a Royal Free visionary
These gifts enable us to invest in research that leads to better diagnoses and treatments, which in turn help improve survival rates. They help us to fund innovative centres of medical excellence, such as the NIHR Royal Free Clinical Research Facility where patients can participate in trials for new, pioneering treatments. They also help fund complementary therapies that improve recovery rates and enhance patient experiences.
Without gifts in wills none of this is possible.
In December 1998, I was lucky enough to start treatment at the national centre of excellence for scleroderma and connective tissues diseases at the Royal Free Hospital. Over the last two decades, the support I have received from this world-renowned centre has been simply exceptional.
In November 2016, world scleroderma expert Professor Chris Denton told me that my skin was cured from scleroderma. I am sure that this, and my longevity, have been due to my early diagnosis and treatment plan.
Managing my chronic, systemic symptoms remains a daily challenge but my experience shows how important an early diagnosis is in preventing potential life-threatening damage and that a well-resourced and funded expert centre is paramount to best patient care.
I have pledged a gift in my will to the Royal Free Charity, knowing that it will make a real difference in researching better understanding, treatments and a cure for scleroderma. I feel a huge sense of relief and peace of mind from knowing that my wishes will be honoured. Hopefully, one day a #SclerodermaFreeWorld.
The Royal Free London treated my brother, Rob, for Anderson-Fabry disease, an incurable genetic condition that affects my family. When Rob passed away I was executor for his will. He left a gift to the Royal Free Charity, and when I made my will I decided I would include a gift too.
When you’re gone, you want to do something that makes a difference, and not just to family and friends but broader society, something that says, “I was here”.
It might sound strange, but having it sorted is a relief for me. I know from dealing with Rob’s will that certainty about what he wanted to do with his money and being able to carry out his wishes was a comfort. When you’re grieving you don’t want to be second guessing which causes a loved one would have supported.
For me writing my will was a conscious act to remove any stress or doubt for those I leave behind. By supporting the Royal Free Charity I’m investing in the future, for the benefit of everyone.