Leaving a legacy for the future

Leaving a legacy for the future

With Include A Charity Week fast approaching, now is a perfect time for Kiwis to think about supporting the Heart Foundation’s life-saving work.

Heart disease is New Zealand’s biggest killer of both men and women, claiming the lives of more than one Kiwi every 90 minutes.

Next week is Include A Charity Week and the Heart Foundation – New Zealand’s leading heart health charity – is asking Kiwis to help continue its life-saving work by leaving a gift in their will.

Karen Miller, Heart Foundation Bequest Specialist, says despite huge advances in treatment and prevention, heart disease continues to devastate thousands of Kiwi families each year.

“But it doesn’t have to be this way. By leaving a gift in your will to the Heart Foundation you can help improve the heart health of all New Zealanders, ensuring the reduction in heart disease continues well into the future,” she says.

“Legacy funds help keep New Zealand families together for longer, for generations to come.”

Karen says leaving a gift in your will is not something reserved for just the rich and famous.

“Every little bit helps, whether it is a sizeable gift or not. Anyone can do it and it’s easy to draw up a will and include a gift to charity.”

One Kiwi leaving a gift to the Heart Foundation in his will is Waiuku farmer, Lawrie Coe.

Lawrie, who has had heart issues for 30 years, says it was a natural choice for him and wife Rae to make a bequest.

“The reason we did this was due to my ongoing heart problems,” Lawrie says. “It doesn’t affect our current standard of living but we know it will make a real difference to the lives of others. It’s one way of giving back to those who’ve helped me.”

Another reason the couple want to support the Heart Foundation is because of the excellent care Lawrie has received from his cardiologist Dr Ivor Gerber.

“The Heart Foundation, through its supporters, played a major role in Dr Gerber’s early training by providing him with research grants and an Overseas Training Fellowship. We want to help the Heart Foundation fund more important research and cardiology training.”

Lawrie says setting up a will was simple; through their solicitor they made provisions for family and then allocated funds to the Heart Foundation.

“We feel good knowing that the life-saving work of the Heart Foundation will carry on and that we have played a part in helping future generations.”

Include A Charity is a movement to encourage more Kiwis to include a gift in their will to their favourite charity, once they’ve looked after family and friends.

If you have not yet drawn up a will, contact your solicitor to ensure your wishes are carried out as intended. Remember to include your friends and family, and then consider leaving a legacy to the Heart Foundation.

ENDS

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