Legacies are the lifeblood of the Children's Hospital Trust and one of our most critical sources of long–term funding, enabling us to plan for the Hospital's future needs.

Preparing a will is a very personal and confidential exercise, and naturally you would use your will to benefit your family and loved ones first! However, you may also like to consider, as many generous and thoughtful people have before you, including one or more charitable bequests to institutions you have supported during your lifetime.

Leaving a legacy to a charitable institution is a unique way to extend your hopes and beliefs beyond your own lifetime and to make a more substantial contribution than you might be able to now. What's more, a legacy is a lasting memorial to each and every individual whose generosity and foresight helps to ensure that the Hospital remains a world-class centre of excellence, bettering the lives of hundreds of thousands of sick children each year. Please contact us now if you would like to consider making a bequest to the Children's Hospital Trust.

Your legacy would be an investment in the future of the children of South Africa... The Trust has recently launched a very special programme designed to bring together those who are planning to leave a legacy for the Children's Hospital Trust: the Circle of Life. This programme will give these special individuals an opportunity to get to know the inner workings of the Hospital, meet the dedicated staff and see first-hand some of the heart-warming miracles that take place at this amazing place of healing.

For more information on the Circle of Life contact Liz Linsell on +27 21 659 1781 or liz.linsell@chtrust.org.za

Bequests to charitable institutions are also exempt from tax and may lead to savings in the amount of estate duty payable, if your estate amounts to more than R1 million.

Types of Bequests

The simplest bequest is to name a fixed sum of money. However, to ensure that their charitable bequests will remain in proportion to other bequests, many people designate in their wills that a percentage of their estate must be given to a charity of their choice.

• Name the charitable institution as the residual beneficiary, to receive whatever remains of the estate after all other heirs have received their due.
• Property, such as a house or other real estate, valuable antiques or jewellery, stocks and shares, are just as welcome as gifts of cash.
• Sign over an existing life assurance policy which is no longer needed - or to take out a new policy, naming the institution as the beneficiary.

For more information on Bequests, please download the Children's Hospital Trust Bequest brochure or for more information to donate download the Legacy Codicil. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for considering the Trust and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital for your donations.

Clemie Hannay-Robertson spends some time with a little patient