Leave a gift in your Will

We all have our own reasons for leaving a gift in our Will. Whatever yours, your gift could help fund the next research breakthrough, support people living with digestive conditions, and create a brighter future for everyone. Please consider leaving a gift in your Will to Guts UK today.

Over a quarter of our work is powered by gifts in Wills. They ensure that people affected by digestive conditions get the information and support they need right now, and make sure that the next generation have access to earlier diagnosis and better treatments.

Supporters who leave a gift in their Will are more than important. They are vital.

Find out  about leaving a gift to Guts UK below. Together, we can help the UK get to grips with guts.

Remember a Charity in your Will Week.

This September, Guts UK is proud to take part in Remember a Charity in your Will Week, taking place from 7–13 September. As part of this national campaign involving charities across the country, we’re taking the opportunity to showcase the incredible difference you can make by leaving a gift in your Will to Guts UK.

Annie-Rose’s story

As part of the Remember a Charity campaign, and to coincide with Achalasia Awareness Month, we caught up with Annie-Rose, 26, from Manchester, who lives with achalasia. Annie-Rose has previously shared her story with Guts UK and now volunteers for the charity Achalasia Action as a Trustee, helping others living with the rare condition. 

Annie-Rose’s symptoms of achalasia began when she was just 16. 

“One day, it suddenly hurt to swallow. I felt intense pressure in my chest. Soon, every bite of food became painful. I started regurgitating food and felt like I couldn’t breathe until it came back up. 

“I was studying musical theatre at the time and suddenly couldn’t keep up. I was exhausted and kept being told my symptoms were stress-related. It made me question myself. Over six weeks, I lost three stone and even struggled to swallow water.” 

As her symptoms became more severe, Annie-Rose’s parents took her to A&E and refused to leave until someone listened. Initially, she was told she had an eating disorder, an experience she describes as incredibly distressing. 

In December 2016, a barium swallow test, which uses barium to highlight the outline of the oesophagus, finally led to a diagnosis of achalasia. 

Annie-Rose was told that her swallowing would never be normal again, but that treatment could help. 

She underwent a dilatation, using a small balloon to stretch the sphincter, which allowed her to swallow liquids. The following month, she had a Heller myotomy, a procedure to cut the muscle fibres of the sphincter, which allowed her to eat again. Since then, she has had nine further dilatations to manage her symptoms. 

Talking about adjusting to life after diagnosis, Annie-Rose said: 

“At first, I struggled to accept my new ‘norm’. Transitioning back to food was hard. I worried that treatment would not last. Over time, I’ve learnt to manage my symptoms and recognise when I need support.” 

Annie-Rose turned to the online world to find other people who understood what she was experiencing. That search for connection eventually inspired her to help others herself. 

“I realised if I wanted to see change, I had to be the change.” 

She began volunteering and later became a Trustee at Achalasia Action. Alongside this, she has graduated, trained as an actor and stepped into opportunities that once felt impossible. 

For Annie-Rose, having access to reliable information and support has been an important part of living with a rare digestive condition. 

“Living with achalasia can feel daunting and isolating, especially after diagnosis. While the internet offers plenty of information, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of negative and uninformed forums.

“Discovering organisations like Guts UK and Achalasia Action brought me instant relief and reassurance that I’m going to be ok. It is so important to have dedicated platforms that provide accurate medical knowledge, reassuring guidance and a supportive community so no one has to navigate their journey alone.” 

Annie-Rose believes that having a charity like Guts UK that is dedicated to the whole digestive system is crucial because digestive health affects so much of our lives, while many conditions remain misunderstood and stigmatised. 

Talking about the importance of long-term funding such as gifts in Wills, Annie-Rose explains: 

“Some digestive conditions don’t just vanish over time, although I wish they would. They’ve affected people for generations and will continue to do so. That’s why I think funding ongoing research and providing dedicated support and information is so vital, ensuring there’s always a trusted place people can turn to when they need help. 

“My hope is for a future driven by in depth research into digestive health, particularly rare conditions like achalasia that are so often overlooked. Breakthrough medical discovery requires long term funding, and leaving a gift in a Will to a dedicated charity like Guts UK is the ultimate way to make that happen.” 

Annie-Rose knows that leaving a gift in a Will may not be something everyone has considered. But for her, it represents an opportunity to continue supporting people who may face the same uncertainty she experienced at 16. 

“It’s a deeply meaningful way to continue caring for this community and leave a lasting legacy of hope long after we are gone. 

“It may not be something you have ever thought about, but it could make a huge change to people like me, who are living with rare conditions.” 

This Remember a Charity in your Will Week, you can help Guts UK make a difference for generations to come. A gift in your Will, however large or small, could help fund vital research, provide trusted information and ensure people living with digestive conditions have somewhere to turn for support. 

And, as Annie-Rose’s story shows, that support can make a real difference to someone living with a condition that can otherwise feel incredibly isolating. 

Make or update your Will for free with our free Will writing services

We’ve joined forces with the National Free Wills Network to help you write a Will, free of charge.

You don’t have to include a gift to Guts UK in your Will to use our will writing services, but we hope you will consider a gift once loved ones are provided for.

A gift to Guts UK will help fund groundbreaking research and support the thousands of people affected by digestive conditions.

Visit a local solicitor for free

Meet with a local solicitor to have a simple Will made or updated for free. This service is provided by our partner, the National Free Wills Network, and is a limited offer available across the UK.

Please contact Dani Freedland at [email protected] for more information. Following a confidential conversation, the Free Wills Network will provide you with a list of participating solicitors in your area.

Please note, Guts UK has partnered with National Free Wills Network to provide this service but other free wills operators are available.