A gift to change the future
Tanya cared for her mum through a heart-breaking death from oral cancer. Because of the support Tanya received fro the Cancer Society she decided to leave a gift in her Will. These special gifts are so important now, more than ever, as demand for Cancer Society’s services rises.
Tanya’s shares the story of her mum’s cancer:
“Mum started smoking as a teenager in the 50s. It was the glamourous thing to do back then; I remember my mother with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of sherry in the other. Dad passed away from a heart attack in 1996, so Mum was a young widow. She never met anyone else – she focused on raising my two sisters and me.
She was 67 when she developed black ulcers in her mouth. That was the first sign something was wrong. She was absolutely terrified of going to the doctor; I think she knew deep down it was cancer.
The cancer grew on the side of her face, eating away at it – it was horrific. Mum didn’t have any treatment because she was terminal. She was in a lot of pain, bed-bound and just wasting away. My sisters and I nursed her for a year - us girls were a mess, but Mum was so strong.
She’d say, ‘You girls are too emotional.’ I insisted on getting support for her from Cancer Society, and they supported me too. I talked to one of the psychologists because I was really struggling – having to deal with Mum, and at the same time my own family.
The psychologist really helped; she was amazing.”
Cancer Society provides free psychology sessions and support groups for New Zealanders facing cancer and their families, just like the support that helped Tanya through her journey. Free specialist nurses, accommodation, and transport to and from appointments are also available for those who need it.
The Legacy gift Tanya leaves will go on caring for parents, children and grandchildren, so no-one has to face cancer alone.
“Mum secretly arranged her funeral with my husband, John, who is a funeral director. She told him, ‘It’s one less thing for the girls to do.’ She even cleaned her house out of furniture, sorted all the photos and chose her outfit. She was one of those ladies who had to have everything in place.”
Every year over 25,000 New Zealanders hear the words “you have cancer” and cancer remains the leading cause of death in New Zealand.
Which is why the Cancer Society is committed to not only caring for those facing cancer today, but also funding world-class cancer research to help beat cancer sooner.
“Seeing what my mum went through, and the support from Cancer Society, is what led to me leaving a gift in my Will. I like what Cancer Society stands for. I’m so appreciative of the support Cancer Society offers and incredibly passionate about the research. I hope by leaving a gift, cancer researchers will find a cure in the future.”
“Mum passed away on Mothers’ Day in 2012, aged 68. I miss her, and I feel like my family has been robbed. She missed my boys’ graduations, their 21sts... I want to be here for my grandchildren.”
“We’re right behind all the Cancer Society do. I hope we can help them keep up their good work and find some sort of cure in the near future.”
The Cancer Society shares Tanya’s passion to find a cure. In fact the research funded through gifts like hers continues to make a measurable, significant difference for cancer patients in New Zealand and around the world.
Advancements in cancer research and treatment are vital to help work towards a future where we beat cancer, a future where our children and grandchildren are less likely to get cancer and more likely to survive it.
It is thanks to the kindness of donations and these special gifts, like Tanya’s, that Cancer Society is here for the thousands of New Zealanders affected by cancer every year.
Like Tanya you can protect future generations of New Zealanders from the heartbreak of cancer by including a gift in your Will to Cancer Society. To find out more today email legacy@akcansoc.org,nz, phone 09 930 7172, or visit us at www.cancer.org.nz