SOLICITORS have been celebrated by Cancer Research for helping to raise more than £2million for the charity.

Oxfordshire law firm Bower & Bailey has received a gold award from Cancer Research UK, in recognition of the amount the firm and its clients have raised through gifts left in wills.

The firm, which has offices in Witney, Oxford and Banbury, has been supporting Cancer Research UK’s will scheme for more than 20 years.

This sees the firm give guidance and support to those wishing to write a will or update an existing one.

Kirsty Southgate, a solicitor at Bower & Bailey, said: "It is incredibly rewarding to know that, by participating in this scheme, we are helping to support not only those going through cancer and their families but also to help further medical advances and research.

"This will hopefully have a lasting benefit for generations to come."

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She said the firm is keen to support the community and charities.

Gifts left in wills, also known as legacies, make up more than a third of funding for the Cancer Research's work.

Clare Moore, director of legacies at the charity, said: "We all reach a stage at some point in our lives where we start to look ahead and consider what will happen to our financial affairs in future, when we may no longer be around.

"We are grateful to Bower & Bailey for the expertise and sensitivity they show in providing clear information and guidance, to help people across the Thames Valley to make the best choices for them.

"It’s thanks to these vital donations and the generosity of our supporters that we are able to keep making progress in the fight against the disease."

Cancer Research UK’s free will service has been running for more than 20 years with a network of solicitors.

People using the service are asked to consider leaving a legacy gift to Cancer Research UK, but are under no obligation to do so.

For more information, visit cruk.org/freewillservice.