Claire Schneider has made the generous decision at age 32 to leave a percentage of her estate to the Mater Foundation in Brisbane in her will. “My desire was to make sure that when the time comes for those funds to be released from my estate, they will be used for something that is an area of need,” she said. “I felt confident that if I were to give the gift to Mater Foundation, they’ve got runs on the board for getting the money out there into the research community and the patient support community.”

Schneider said the idea had been “floating around in the back of her mind” for some years—so when updating her will before she got married in April 2017, she took the opportunity to include a gift to the Mater. Being a barrister, Schneider believes that many young people may want to leave a gift, but do not have a will. She said no matter what age or stage of life, people have a responsibility to those they love to make one. “Part of my experience has been my father passing away about three and a half years ago from melanoma and the trauma of losing someone you love is unbearable. I couldn’t have imagined what it would have been like if he didn’t have his affairs in order.”

It was her father’s death that initially connected Claire to the Mater Foundation. As his illness progressed, she wanted to do something to show her support. She had spotted Smiling for Smiddy competitors at Noosa triathlons. A cyclist herself, she decided to join the 2013 Brisbane to Townsville Smiddy Challenge—flying home two days before the ride ended when her dad’s health took a turn for the worse. He passed away the day after the Smiddy riders reached Townsville. Since then, Mater’s activity has interested her. Claire has had friends treated, and nieces and nephews born at Mater—and has been left impressed by the work of Mater’s researchers. “The thing about Mater is you know that if you’re in Queensland a gift to Mater literally makes a difference to people in your neighbourhood.”

More information on making space for charity in wills can be found here.

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