The Issue
Asthma is one of Australia’s most common respiratory conditions, affecting one in ten Australians. People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs and exposure to certain ’triggers’ cause their airways to narrow, making it hard, or sometimes extremely difficult for them to breathe.
“I want my son to grow up reaching his full potential. Thanks to the help I have received from The Asthma Foundation of Victoria I now know how to safely react when Ryan has an asthma attack.” Janine Ceola, mother of Ryan, aged 3.
Ryan is one of more than 600,000 Victorians of all ages who have doctor-diagnosed asthma and related conditions. Sadly, each year over 400 Australians die from asthma and there is currently no known cure. Despite this, many asthma related deaths are avoidable through education and correct management.
As well as being a major cause of mortality in Australia, asthma is also the leading cause of hospitalisations and consequent missed days of school, work and study.
Among adults, asthma is a major cause of workplace illness. Many older people have undiagnosed asthma and as a result their quality of life is greatly diminished.
Solutions
There is hope though, thanks to improvements in education, training, management and research over the past 30 years, deaths from asthma have been halved.
Many of the achievements of the Asthma Foundation of Victoria are made possible through the generosity of people who include The Foundation in their will. Everyone should have an up to date will. Bequests are one way that individuals can show their support for the work of The Foundation and help us strive towards a brighter future for Australians living with asthma.
Your bequest will enable The Foundation to maintain and expand valuable services such as information, education, training and resources. Your gift of a bequest will also fund research helping us to find a cure.
The tragedy of the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one to asthma is unimaginable. But their death should not be in vain. To help honour the memory of your loved one, your bequest can be a lasting legacy and help prevent other families from experiencing the same grief.
“I have left a bequest to The Asthma Foundation of Victoria in recognition of what they have done for so many people with asthma. We lost our precious daughter to asthma. By remembering The Foundation in my will, I am doing something to help ensure no other family has to face the loss we endured….” Anonymous.
Bequest wording
Here is some suggested wording you may like to consider when preparing or updating your will:
"I bequeath to The Asthma Foundation of Victoria the sum of ............... dollars (Australian $.....) free of all duties for the general purpose of the said Foundation and the receipt of the Foundation shall be sufficient discharge for the same."
OR
"I bequeath the whole/percentage/specified portion of the residue of my Estate to The Asthma Foundation of Victoria. My bequest is to be used for the general purpose of the said Foundation and the receipt of the Foundation shall be sufficient discharge for the same."
Further Information
If you would like further information about leaving a bequest, please contact the Asthma Foundation of Victoria on the numbers below or use our online contact form.
Ph: (03) 9326 7088
Toll Free: 1800 645 130.