Bequest - a gift in your will
What will your legacy be?
There are many ways to leave your mark on the world - your relationships with your whānau/family and friends, your work, sporting or community endeavours and more all contribute to memories of you.
Another way is to leave a planned gift to the Cancer Society in your will.
By doing so, your kindness will live on, improving lives long after you have gone. When you support us, you become a partner in helping to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer affecting our families and our communities.
Your planned gift could include:
- A portion of your estate
- A sum of money
- Property Stocks and shares
- A life insurance policy, annuities or trust
We value every gift, no matter what form or amount. The Cancer Society Wellington Division covers the Greater Wellington area, the Kāpiti Coast, Wairarapa, Nelson/Tasman and Marlborough. Your gift will be used in the area you live in unless you indicate otherwise in your bequest.
Please contact our Bequest Coordinator Judith Langridge on 04 260 4569 or fill in our form today for a confidential discussion on leaving a gift in your will to the Cancer Society and supporting people affected by cancer in your community. You can read some of our Frequently Asked Questions here!
Your gift will help ensure no one has to face cancer alone.
The Cancer Society has been supporting people affected by cancer for over 90 years. We are the leading non-government organisation dedicated to ensuring cancer care for every community throughout New Zealand.
We’re here for all. We are the only cancer charity that is not cancer-specific. We provide support to all who need us.
We are self-funded and rely on the generosity of the people of New Zealand to help us do our vital work for individuals and the community. Perhaps Cancer Society Wellington has been there to help you, a family member, or someone in your community.
With your help, we will always be there for people affected by cancer, and for their caregivers and whānau/family, now and in the future. Your planned gift/koha could help to support a person going through cancer, contribute to world-leading research programmes, and/or support community initiatives/policy that will help family/ whānau reduce cancer risk.
Your gift could help us with...
Support & Information
The Cancer Society offers emotional, social and financial support for people affected by cancer. Our frontline services include:
Expert Cancer Information Nurses who provide advice in-person or via phone and email
- Transport to and from hospital appointments and a free carpark right next to Wellington Hospital
- A large team of volunteers who enable us to provide vital services such as driving patients to and from treatment, supporting patients who are receiving treatment at oncology wards and home visits
- Support groups for those living with and beyond cancer
- Specialised counselling for people affected by cancer and their whānau/family
Health Promotion
We work collaboratively with community groups to provide a range of resources to help people make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of cancer.
Patient Accommodation - Margaret Stewart House
Margaret Stewart House is a ‘home away from home’ for cancer patients from out of town who need a place to stay while receiving treatment at Wellington Hospital. We have around 3500 bed-night stays each year. This greatly reduces the financial burden on patients and their families.
Research
The Cancer Society is a major funder of life-saving and world-class cancer research through our Research Grants Programme, dedicated to finding ways to reduce, treat or eradicate the risks associated with cancer.
Advocacy
We advocate for equitable public health outcomes. This means we have strong established relationships with the media to comment on public health issues such as tobacco control, skin cancer prevention and equitable access to cancer treatment and screening programmes.
Health Equity
We work alongside communities to improve cancer outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Planning your gift
Leaving a planned gift is a very personal decision. Decide on a gift that’s suitable for you. If you would like your bequest to be used for a specific purpose, we would be pleased to discuss your options in person. There are many ways you can arrange to leave a gift to the Cancer Society in your will.
Your solicitor, trustee or the Public Trust can assist with the detail, but in general, there are three main types of bequests:
- Residuary Gift: leaving a portion or the remainder of your estate to the Cancer Society after all other bequest and financial commitments have been honoured.
- Specific Gift: leaving a specific item, such as property or shares to the Cancer Society.
- Pecuniary Gift: a gift to the Cancer Society of a stated sum of money designated in your will.
Preparing your will
Here is an example of the words you can use:
“I bequeath The Cancer Society Wellington (CC10067), the whole of my estate or { A specific sum} or { a percentage of the residual estate} or {specified items}, free of all duties and deductions, to be applied for (either) the purposes of the Cancer Society Wellington in such a manner as its Directors may determine (or) the following purpose _________. I direct that a receipt from the Cancer Society Wellington shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors.
Receive $250 towards your legal costs
Once you have made a bequest to us through your will, or a memorandum of wishes, you can arrange for your lawyer or the Public Trust to send us an account for up to $250 plus GST towards the cost of your legal fees.
The Hope Fellowship
Please let us know if you have made a bequest, as this helps us plan for future projects, and enables us the opportunity of engaging with you on the future use of your funds if you wish. Telling us your wishes is of course 100% confidential.
When you contact us, we will offer to make you a lifetime member of the Hope Fellowship — a small way to acknowledge your commitment and generosity.
You will then receive:
- A lapel pin to commemorate the promise of a bequest
- The choice to have your name on the Hope Fellowship honours board
- With your consent, a special mention in the appropriate Cancer Society publications.
Joining the Hope Fellowship is completely up to you. We understand that some supporters wish to remain anonymous and, of course, we always respect the wishes of those who want to keep their bequests confidential.
Get in touch with us for a confidential discussion
Thank you for considering leaving a bequest to the Cancer Society. If you would like to speak with us in confidence about a gift in your will, fill out your details below and we'll be in touch with you shortly.
Download our bequest brochure
Click on your nearest Cancer Society location below and the PDF will download.
Greater Wellington
Wairarapa
Nelson/Tasman
Marlborough
Learn more about the Hope Fellowship
Cancer Society Wellington CEO Michael Smith talks about the Hope Fellowship
Dame Fran Wilde - our Hope Fellowship Ambassador
Dame Fran Wilde and our medical director, Dr Chris Jackson
Dame Fran Wilde is the Ambassador of the Hope Fellowship. She has had a close personal connection with cancer and is aware of the work the Cancer Society carries out in the community. She has been an avid supporter of our fundraising events for many years, and we are honoured to have her as our Ambassador.