Actors have been used in this story to protect anonymity.
A legacy given to Heart Research UK is a wonderful gift for future generationsBy leaving a gift to Heart Research UK in your will you can have more control over your money - and save quite a hefty bill to the taxman. If your estate is worth more than £325,000, the executors of your will may have to pay inheritance tax at a rate of 40%. But if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, the remainder of the estate will be taxed at a reduced rate of 36%.
When Heart Research UK started over 50 years ago, more than 70% of heart attacks ended in death, but today at least 70% of people survive. Despite these great achievements we still have far to go to prevent, treat and cure heart disease - it is one of the UK's single biggest killers.
By leaving a gift in your will many more people will have healthier, happier and longer lives to enjoy with their family and friends. It's more than just money - it's life, hope and health for future generations.
Your legacy has the power to change the future. Leave a gift in your will to see a future free from heart disease.
Debbie's story
'Ian and I (pictured) got married when we were 19. I guess you can say it was love at first sight, despite his terrible dancing and highly questionable dress sense! After a few years of trying we sadly realised that being parents was never going to happen, so instead we focused on making our home and garden our sanctuary, going on fabulous holidays and making some truly wonderful memories.
'When Ian was 56 he was diagnosed with a heart condition, and after a few years of treatment there was nothing else the doctors could do. I lost my soulmate just before his 60th birthday.
'There was an awful silence in my life after he died, that's the only way I can describe it, and I struggled to find anything to bring me real joy for quite some time. Eventually I started to rebuild my life and do things that made me happy.
'I began to think about mine and Ian's legacy. We had no children of our own, but I wanted to make sure that when I eventually pass, mine and Ian's legacy will be used for something amazing. I got in touch with my solicitor and left a gift to Heart Research UK in my will. I felt an overwhelming feeling of relief doing it, as though Ian and I will live on together in the future, doing great things as a team, just as we were.'
'Ian and I (pictured) got married when we were 19. I guess you can say it was love at first sight, despite his terrible dancing and highly questionable dress sense! After a few years of trying we sadly realised that being parents was never going to happen, so instead we focused on making our home and garden our sanctuary, going on fabulous holidays and making some truly wonderful memories.
'When Ian was 56 he was diagnosed with a heart condition, and after a few years of treatment there was nothing else the doctors could do. I lost my soulmate just before his 60th birthday.
'There was an awful silence in my life after he died, that's the only way I can describe it, and I struggled to find anything to bring me real joy for quite some time. Eventually I started to rebuild my life and do things that made me happy.
'I began to think about mine and Ian's legacy. We had no children of our own, but I wanted to make sure that when I eventually pass, mine and Ian's legacy will be used for something amazing. I got in touch with my solicitor and left a gift to Heart Research UK in my will. I felt an overwhelming feeling of relief doing it, as though Ian and I will live on together in the future, doing great things as a team, just as we were.'
Our mission
Every five minutes someone dies from heart disease in the UK, and it's likely it will impact your own life one day, if it hasn't already. We need to tackle this problem head on, and we need to start today. Our work focuses on developing lifesaving medical research to find new treatments and cures, delivering ground-breaking training and education, and helping communities to improve their heart health. We won't stop until there are no more deaths from heart disease.
◆ For more information visit heartresearch.org.uk or call 0113 234 7474
Registered charity number 1044821
