For years her recipes have inspired thousands of Scots to try something new.
Lady Claire Macdonald, Press and Journal columnist and one of Scotland’s best-loved cooks, has created hundreds of mouth-watering dishes which have been enjoyed everywhere from dinner parties to family picnics.
Always positive, cheerful and encouraging, her personality has helped persuade even the most amateur of home cooks to have a go.
Now she’s taking on another challenge, encouraging people to get involved in Remember A Charity Week and to make a will.
“Across Scotland many fundraisers do legendary things to raise money, but jumping out of planes and running marathons isn’t the only way our supporters become legends,” said Lady Claire.
“Remembering a Charity Week is about raising awareness of gifts in wills – which is such a vital fundraising source.”
Remember A Charity in your Will Week is an annual awareness week designed to encourage more people to take a moment to consider leaving a gift to charity when writing a will.
This year it takes place from Monday, September 8 until Sunday, September 14.
Around 75% of us regularly give to charity during our lifetime, yet only 6% currently include a charity when writing a will.
The priority will always be to look after family and friends first, but it’s also lovely to able to leave a little or a lot – whatever your budget allows, to a charity that’s dear to your heart.
Without a steady stream of donations, many charities would simply not exist and others would have to cut crucial services so this September, why take a moment to think about leaving a gift to charity.
CHARITY – MARIE CURIE
Marie Curie is the leading charity providing care to people with any terminal illness in their own homes or in one of its nine hospices.
It is committed to carrying out the research and innovation necessary to find out what the best possible care is and how best to provide it.
Putting patients and families first has always been its goal.
Marie Curie provides free hands-on nursing care to around 144 terminally-ill patients and their families in Grampian each month.
Marie Curie clinical nurse manager for Grampian, Caroline Paterson, said: “Remembering us in your will enables Marie Curie nurses to continue providing more free care to people with terminal illnesses across Grampian.
“Given the choice, most of us would want to die at home, surrounded by the people and things we cherish.
“Gifts in wills to Marie Curie play a huge part in making this possible, allowing families to make the most of the precious time they have left together.”
Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Marie Curie, said: “Gifts in wills are the largest single voluntar yincome stream for Marie Curie, and ensure future generations of people are given the choice of where they are cared for at the end of their lives.
“Every single gift enables us to continue to help more people who have a terminal illness and to support their families and carers.
“These vital gifts enable us to provide high-quality care and to expand our services to reach more of those who need us.
“We are committed to improving end-of-life care services, crucial for a health and social care system under increasing pressure from an aging population.”
Gifts in wills are vital in the provision of patient care and have the potential to help the charity continue and grow the care it provides long into the future.
Without supporters’ gifts, the charity simply could not keep on caring, every day and every night.
Choosing to remember Marie Curie in your will
allows terminally-ill people to make a crucial choice of their own – to die at home and help the charity continue to
provide expert care to people with terminal illnesses.
Every gift makes a difference and leaving a gift in your will is easy to do.
Marie Curie patron, Lady Clare MacDonald said: “Preparing your will gives you the reassurance that your loved ones will be provided for, and leaving Marie Curie a gift in your will helps to provide care to people at the end of their lives.
“We hope more people will become a living legend and leave a gift to Marie Curie.”
Contact your regional Marie Curie legacy adviser, who will give you all of the information you need. It also offers a free will writing service.
Contact: www.mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills