Donating in memory of your loved one
2021-03-25
Making an ‘in memoriam’ donation will support medical research into improving outcomes for people with cancer, and ultimately lead to finding a cure. It’s a powerful way to remember your precious loved one.
Learning to live with the loss a loved one is a difficult road and can make you rethink your priorities. While it may seem impossible, there are ways you can find purpose in life again. One of those is by donating in memory of your loved one. It can help you process your loss, as well as provide you with a chance to help others.
‘In memoriam’ donations can be really helpful for some people who are struggling to make sense of their loss, says Sarah Godfrey, psychologist and Co-Chair of Griefline, a free national helpline offering counselling and support to anyone experiencing grief and loss. Sarah explains:
We can feel very helpless and directionless when we lose someone - making a donation in someone’s memory can give purpose to something that we're struggling to recognise as real or meaningful in any way...
There are several ways you can remember your loved one, such as marking a birthday or significant day with a one-off/ongoing donation, creating an ‘in memory’ donations page, or providing donations in lieu of flowers at a funeral. Sarah continues:
Altruism can have a powerful effect on people, with research showing the mental, physical, spiritual and financial benefits of giving unconditionally...
We know altruism has a huge effect on our emotional wellbeing and our sense of happiness. The act of gifting can make you feel better that you're helping others at a time where you're feeling so alone - it also connects you to a community.
Donations to The Kids’ Cancer Project go towards vital research into children’s cancer to help develop better treatment outcomes. This means you will be part of the story in finding a cure for cancer and helping other children going through treatment.
If you donate to an organisation that is researching cancer, you're always a part of that - and that money is going to help others in the future.