# The race for legacies

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/09/20/race-legacies/
- Published: 2010-09-20T19:29:26+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

This weekend I watched the world’s biggest half-marathon, the Bupa Great North Run.

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/Great North Run.JPG)

As a keen runner who also ran the race last year for charity, I am always inspired
by everyone who takes part.

But what really struck me this year was so many of the back stories of why people
got involved.

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The BBC interviewed some of those who were running in memoriam for their loved ones,
such as one woman whose mum had suffered with Alzheimers. Or those who were running
to help raise vital funds for their local hospice.

But then I wondered how many of those same runners would consider leaving a gift
in their will for that same charity. Not many, I would suspect.

Part of the problem is that charities rarely ask. Striking up a conversation with
charity supporters about legacies is half the battle. If participants are prepared
to run hundreds of miles in training for their favourite charity, the chances are–
if asked in the right way – they’ll be willing to leave a gift in their will after
looking after their loved ones.

That’s why we were delighted that the world’s biggest half marathon helped us mark
the end of Remember A Charity Week.

Great North Run race organisers kindly allowed charities including the NSPCC, Breakthrough
Breast Cancer, RNIB, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Arthritis Research UK to gather
at the finish line to mark the week.

Charities in the charity village also gave supporters a Remember A Charity Week 
cups of tea to help kick-start a legacy conversation.

It was fantastic to see so many runners chatting about another way they might consider
supporting their favourite cause.

It has also been fantastic to get so much positive feedback about the week, including
one member of the public who called our office last week. She saw a Remember A Charity
article in a Barclays will writing pack. And then she saw our TV advert. It was 
enough, she admitted, to finally change her will to include her favourite charity.

Over the finish line….? With just 7% currently leaving a charitable gift in their
will, the race has only just begun…