Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

More than 1 in 3 people in the UK will develop cancer at some point in their lives and one in four will die from the disease. That said, the situation is improving all the time. Improvements in treatment mean that the overall cancer mortality rate in the UK has dropped by 11% in the last ten years

That improvement is being achieved through research – and Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds. The charity supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.

But world-class research doesn’t come cheap, and Cancer Research UK is almost entirely funded by donations from the public: the charity has a network of over 600 shops and 1,000 local fundraising groups. Over 30,000 volunteers give their time freely to support the charity.

And almost half of its scientific spend comes from supporters leaving legacies or gifts in their wills – adding up to £130 million a year. Without this money Cancer Research UK scientists could not carry on their vital, life-saving research.

Without their work, generations to come will still be facing the threat of cancer. Without the generosity of the public, that work cannot be funded. We have all lost loved ones and friends to cancer. We all have loved ones who have survived – many as a direct result of the work of Cancer Research.

You can help beat cancer by leaving a gift in your will to Cancer Research UK. To do so, or to find out more, telephone their Legacy Information Officer on 0207 121 6697 or look at their website www.cancer.org.uk/legacies

Relevant links

• Cancer Research UK legacies (Opens a new window)