Merton's Story: Leaving a Gift in Your Will

A donation in your Will can fund the research that will help discover better treatments, better care and, ultimately, cures.

“I want the best cancer treatments to be available to patients like me, so I’ve left a gift in my Will; I hope there’s some good that can come from my experience.” - Merton

Merton sat in hospital room having blood tests taken

Waking up from surgery, four rods now inserted into his spine, Merton wasn’t sure if he was in heaven. This surgery was the first major step in, as Merton describes, “living cheerfully with cancer.”

“We will teach you to walk again.” - These words from a kind physiotherapist brought tears to Merton’s eyes. And they were right; soon, Merton was able to manage the stairs at home.

It’s been nearly 13 years since this milestone and all that time, Leeds Cancer Centre has helped Merton cope with his cancer. The surgery was just the first in a series of treatments in his journey.

“I’m not going to let the cancer take any of my mental energy. I still have my life to live.”

Merton is a patient undergoing treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre

Interventions like chemotherapy and several anti-cancer drug trials over the years have enabled Merton to feel ok within himself. “If there’s some good that comes from them, I can cope.” His motivations go beyond helping himself; he hopes this research will benefit other cancer patients too.

That’s also why he’s made the amazing decision to leave a gift to Leeds Hospitals Charity in his Will.

Like Merton’s, a gift in your Will to Leeds Hospitals Charity could fund clinical trials that make cancer surgeries safer. Your gift could upgrade crucial equipment at Leeds Cancer Centre – like Limax lasers that are vital in removing tumours, or fluorescence software that enables clinicians to identify cancerous tissue.

Leave a gift in your Will like Merton today

Donate Today

Donate today to make a real difference for patients, families and staff

Latest

Celebrities scored ‘10s’ all round at Burrow Strictly fundraiser in Blackpool

Over £50,000 has been raised through this year’s fundraising ball, taking their total raised through the Burrow Strictly Ball up to £140,000 for MND charities
Gift in Wills enable Leeds Hospitals Charity to kickstart UK first innovation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals

In 2021, Leeds Hospitals Charity were able to invest £10,000 to kickstart Mr Rathore’s important work.
Donations fund specialist Chaplain to support cancer and end of life patients

Frin Lewis-Smith joined the chaplaincy team earlier this year, providing dedicated support to people living with cancer and on end of life care in our hospitals.
Research shouldn’t be an ‘optional extra’ - it should be an integral part of patient care

"We're giving children the opportunity to participate in trials that can help us develop the best treatments for poorly children and improve outcomes."

Celebrities scored ‘10s’ all round at Burrow Strictly fundraiser in Blackpool

Over £50,000 has been raised through this year’s fundraising ball, taking their total raised through the Burrow Strictly Ball up to £140,000 for MND charities
Gift in Wills enable Leeds Hospitals Charity to kickstart UK first innovation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals

In 2021, Leeds Hospitals Charity were able to invest £10,000 to kickstart Mr Rathore’s important work.
Donations fund specialist Chaplain to support cancer and end of life patients

Frin Lewis-Smith joined the chaplaincy team earlier this year, providing dedicated support to people living with cancer and on end of life care in our hospitals.
Research shouldn’t be an ‘optional extra’ - it should be an integral part of patient care

"We're giving children the opportunity to participate in trials that can help us develop the best treatments for poorly children and improve outcomes."
Charity Clay Day event funds life-saving equipment to improve outcomes for young patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital

The money raised has enabled us to purchase an innovative new ultrasound scanner for Leeds Children’s Hospital, which will be used on some of the region’s sickest children during life-saving surgery.
Rob Burrow Centre for MND Blog: I&G appointed to build the centre

Construction company I&G have just been appointed to build the new MND Centre. Managing Director, Christopher Carline, explains what it means to be involved.
Donations fund the expansion of Virtual Reality within Leeds Children’s Hospital

Thanks to further donations, we have provided funding to expand the virtual reality service at Leeds Children's Hospital.
Charity funded equipment helps patients recover quicker after oral surgery

Leeds Dental Institute (LDI) is one of only a few hospitals in the country using this innovative surgical technique. Over the past six months over 300 patients have now benefitted from this new surgery.
Charity funded scanner helps improve outcomes for skin cancer patients in Yorkshire

Thanks to generous donations from the people of Leeds, we reached our target to purchase this innovative technology, helping to detect the recurrence or spread of melanoma quicker for skin cancer patients.
Donations enable stroke team to integrate technology into patient speech and language rehabilitation

“The iPads have not only enabled our staff to provide new and more engaging ways of working with patients, they have also encouraged patients to drive their own recovery with our support and guidance."