Antiques and heirlooms and the fight against cancer

Gifts in Wills make a huge difference to the groundbreaking work supported by Cancer Research UK and there are more ways to help than you might think. When we consider pledging a gift, 9 times in 10 it will be in the form of money, however not all gifts are cash.

By making a list of your assets and possessions, you can decide whether you'd like to bequeath a cash gift or pledge an heirloom, some antiques, a record collection or even property and land.

Collectively, these gifts provide a genuine boost to the work of the charity, as gifts in Wills to Cancer Research UK fund more than a third of its life-saving research.

In September 2018, Christie’s auctioned off the household contents and jewellery of collector Marcella Rossi, who had left them to Cancer Research UK.

Among the most ornate pieces was a late 19th/early 20th century Indian white painted architectural screen, which acted as an ornamental headboard for Rossi’s resplendent bed (pictured), with an estimated value of £2000-4000.

Pledged gifts in Wills have enabled Cancer Research UK to play a leading role in developing 8 of the world's top 10 cancer drugs in use today, but there’s still more work to be done. In the UK today, 1 in 2 people born after 1960, will have to live with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Research UK’s aim is to see 3 in 4 people to survive their disease for 10 years or more by 2034. With your support in pledging a gift in your Will, you can play a part in helping beat cancer sooner.

Pledge right now to help beat cancer sooner

To find our more or to request a free Gifts in Wills guide, visit cruk.org/pledge or call 0800 035 9000.

Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103)”