Clare is leaving a gift to fund the research of tomorrow
Clare is leaving a gift in her Will to the Macular Society after witnessing the devastating impact macular disease had on her beloved mother.
“Anything I can do to help people in the future, to prevent them from losing their sight, I’m willing to do.”
Clare, Macular Society legacy pledger
A close-knit family
My father was a publican and my mother helped out behind the bar sometimes. It was a family-run business, and she had a great personality. Everyone loved her. She was very chatty - just so outgoing.
My mother loved fashion and was always dressed beautifully. She was so independent. She enjoyed going to the shops or off on a day trip here and there. She was such a bubbly person.
After my father passed away in 1993, my mother got quite depressed for about a year. But that sort of lifted in the way depression can, and she went straight into organising my eldest sister's wedding. My mother loved organising things, so the wedding helped her get back to her normal self.
My mother's macular disease diagnosis
When she turned 80, she was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We’d never heard of it. For her 80th birthday we went to Largs, a lovely little seaside town in Scotland, with a ferry that takes you over to an island called Millport. She was climbing up the stairs to the upper deck, perfectly ok and full of beans.
Later, I remember in a restaurant she said: 'Do you think this macular thing will be bad for me?' I said, 'Oh, don't worry about that, Mum.'
But you could tell even then at the early stages, having just had the diagnosis, the fear and uncertainty were beginning to set in. And as time went on, her eyesight steadily deteriorated.
Loss of independence
She was someone who was always out and about, going out for dinner and meeting people. But now she didn’t feel safe just going for a walk unless she was with someone. And even then she couldn’t really see what was in front of her. She couldn't write any Christmas cards or watch television or read the newspapers. Macular disease took away all the things she used to enjoy. She just wasn’t herself at all. The fun was gone from her life.
“Macular disease took away all the things she used to enjoy. She just wasn’t herself at all. The fun was gone from her life.”
Clare
It's quite sad to see your mother so worried and you can’t do anything about it. Yes, you can support someone and be there, but fundamentally, they're dealing with it - you can't see for them.
Leaving a lasting gift in her Will to support research
I’ve left some money in my Will towards research, because I think it's awful to be afflicted by AMD in your old age. You should feel content and be able to enjoy your life, rather than trying to cope with this cruel disease that takes away your sight and your confidence.
“Keeping your sight is surely one of the most important things.”
Clare
I imagine there are other people like me whose parents have suffered from macular disease too and feel the same way. They should leave a gift in their Will to fund research. The ideal would be if research could lead to something that could just stop macular disease, preventing any more damage so people don't lose their sight because of it.
And hopefully as time goes on, they might be able to find a cure.
Your gift will help Beat Macular Disease
A gift in your Will to the Macular Society will fund vital research to help our scientists better understand the causes of macular disease and develop new ways to prevent, treat and ultimately cure it.
Request your free Gifts in Wills guide today to find out more and discover how your gift could make a difference.
Have questions about making or updating your Will? Our friendly team is here to help. Call us on 01264 322 410 or email legacies@macularsociety.org.
*Except where stated, we have used stock photography to protect Clare’s privacy.