A CANCER survivor who vowed to beat the disease in order to see her first grandchild born is backing a campaign highlighting the power of legacy giving in saving lives.

Sylvia Kimbrey, 65, who was determined her cancer was ‘not going to get me’, has benefitted from research after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2004.

Now, after being treated successfully, she is urging local people to leave a lasting gift for future generations by including a donation to Cancer Research UK in their will.

Gifts in wills fund over a third of Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.

Last year around 140 people in Dorset helped to write an end to cancer by leaving legacy gifts to the charity, which raised over £3.5million for vital research.

Sylvia, from West Stafford, said: “Being diagnosed with cancer turned my life upside down. But I thought to myself ‘you’re not going to get me’ as I was going to have my first grandchildren. And, thanks to research, I’m still here."

Now fit and well, the retired teacher is kept busy by her five grandchildren, Oliver and Josh, both nine, Luke, seven, Ruby, six, and Charlie, three.

Sylvia, who is married to Les and has three children, was diagnosed after several months of feeling unwell.

She said: "Our family has had a lot of experience of cancer and I just know so many people who have had it, so I am fully aware of the symptoms."

Sylvia lost both her sisters Beryl and Doreen to cancer, and also saw her brother Brian successfully overcome prostate cancer three years ago.

Following surgery and six months of chemotherapy Sylvia was given the all clear just as she was given further good news that both her daughter Amy and daughter-in-law Rachel were pregnant.

Since her cancer diagnosis Sylvia has been raising money for Cancer Research UK through Race for Life.

And her four oldest grandchildren have recently been joining her at the Race for Life events at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester, with six-year-old Ruby being given the honour of sounding the klaxon to start last year’s event.

Sylvia added: “By leaving a gift in their will – no matter how big or small the donation – people in Dorset can give many more families like mine the incredible gift of hope.

"I’m so grateful for the treatment that saved my life. Success stories like mine would not be possible without Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, which in turn relies on everyone who donates much needed funds.

"That’s why I’m supporting this vitally important campaign. I can’t think of a better way to say thank you than by helping to raise funds for research that will create a brighter future for my grandchildren and generations to come."

For more information visit cruk.org/WriteAnEnd or call 0800 077 66 44.

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