Many people fail to realise how much of every charity’s income comes from legacies. This year, 43% of our current income came from legacies. This vital source of our research funding comes mainly from those long time supporters who have remembered us in their Wills.

We are fortunate that many supporters choose to remember the Brain Research Trust in their Will. They see it as a logical extension of their lifetime of support, and it has the added benefit that charities do not pay tax on the money they receive in this way. But while our supporters are among the 70% of people who give regularly to charity, it is inevitable that some of them will be among the 64% of regular givers who do not mention a charity in their will.

Over the years, the Brain Research Trust has benefited enormously from legacy income. A recent example is the research carried out by Dr Linda Greensmith and her team into the cause of Motor Neurone Disease which is now going for clinical trials. A legacy from Miss Emily Watts to remember her brother, Graham, together with a bequest from the Countess Talmon d'Arcy established the Watts Fund which supports the Graham Watts Laboratory including Dr Greensmith and her technician.

If you are thinking of making or changing your will, the BRT has a free information pack which could help save you time and money by taking you through the steps that you need to consider before seeing your solicitor. We are linked to the Legacy Promotion Campaign's Good Will Test which has an easy to understand checklist to help you with your will-making.

Whatever you do, please do not underestimate the value of your support. The knowledge that money will be available to us in future years means that we can invest now in research that will last more than one or two years. It is because of people who name the Brain Research Trust in their will today that in years to come there will be funding available to continue our work.

For a free copy of the Legacy Information Pack please phone 020 7404 9982 or email us on info@brt.org.uk with your name, address and postcode.