One in three New Zealanders will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Jon knows this firsthand – twice over.
He supported his partner through her own cancer treatment, then faced a diagnosis himself.
That experience gave him a deep understanding of the emotional weight cancer places on patients and their whānau. Rather than let that experience sit still, Jon channelled it into action.
For nearly 20 years, he volunteered as a cancer patient driver, taking people to and from their appointments during one of the hardest periods of their lives. He says the relief on their faces told him everything he needed to know about why the work mattered.
Through his years of volunteering, Jon saw something else too: how much the Cancer Society depends on its community.
The organisation receives no direct government funding – it relies solely on donations to keep its services running, from transport and accommodation to counselling and support groups. That understanding led Jon to make a decision: leaving a gift in his Will to the Cancer Society.
For someone who has seen cancer’s impact both personally and through his volunteering, he calls it a straightforward choice – one that will help ensure future patients get the same practical, pressure-relieving support he watched make such a difference to the people he drove.
This September is Gift in Wills Month – and there’s never been a better time to act.
For the whole month, we’ve partnered with Footprint to offer completely free Will-writing. It takes as little as 15 minutes and gives you the chance to protect what matters most – and, if you choose – to leave a gift to the Cancer Society Wellington Division.
Every dollar donated stays right here, funding practical support for people across our region facing cancer. Don’t put it off.
Write your free Will this September at myfootprint.co.nz/cancer-society, and leave a legacy of care – just like Jon.
