THIS week, our readers wrote to us about Trees for Life, the Make a Will Campaign and Ovarian Cancer Awareness. Here's what they said...
 

Save the forest
DEAR Editor,
I would like to ask readers to help save one of the UK’s most endangered forests and its rare wildlife by supporting Trees for Life in an easy and free online vote before March 22.
Our Rewilding the Highlands project has been shortlisted for the prestigious European Outdoor Conservation Association’s funding awards, with more than £22,000 at stake. Winning the online vote would allow us to expand our pioneering work to restore the Caledonian Forest in the Highlands – including by planting 50,000 trees, establishing habitats for wildlife such as red squirrels, black grouse and Scottish wildcats, and creating conservation opportunities for many people.
Please make a difference and vote at treesforlife.org.uk/voteTFL.
Yours faithfully,
Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life

 

Create a will for free
DEAR Editor,
National charity Heart Research UK is urging the people to take advantage of its month-long ‘Make a Will’ campaign. 
Throughout May solicitors in Scotland - including Calders in Dundee - will provide a free of charge will-writing service. The solicitors will waive their usual fee but provide the same will service and legal advice - in return for a donation to Heart Research UK.
Writing a will is important as it puts you in control of your affairs, making sure your plans can be actioned and your wishes respected.  It can also save potential disputes among family members and removes any doubt about who you want to leave your estate to, avoiding any unnecessary legal complications for your loved ones after your death. 
However, three in five of UK adults have not made a will according to a survey released in November 2015.
If you do not have a will or if it is not up to date, perhaps it is time to consider this and make the most of the opportunity of the free will writing service.
It is easy to take part in Heart Research UK’s ‘Make a Will month’. 
Simply arrange a will-writing appointment in May, quoting Heart Research UK’s ‘Make a Will month’. You can contact Emma de Vos of Calders directly on 0138 222 4391 to make your appointment.
Alternatively, find out which solicitors in your area are taking part by contacting development@heart research.org.uk or calling 0113 234 7474.
At the appointment your solicitor will give you a payment slip to complete. Instead of paying the solicitor you will be invited to make a minimum donation of £50 per Will to HRUK (or £75 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ Wills). You will have the option to give your donation by cheque (payable to Heart Research UK), credit/debit card or via our website.
Heart Research UK are very grateful to all of the solicitors who are supporting our Make a Will month and to everyone who takes part. The money raised will be used to fund innovative and pioneering research in the treatment, cure and prevention of heart disease.
Thank you,
Kairen Brown, Heart Research UK

 

Make some noise
DEAR Editor,
As an Ambassador for Target Ovarian Cancer, and having seen both my parents diagnosed with cancer, I’m passionate about the importance of shouting about the symptoms of this disease. 
This month is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and I’m asking your readers to help us START MAKING NOISE to spread the word. Currently around 565 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Scotland.
Your superstar readers might like to know that they can get involved with Target Ovarian Cancer’s fundraising efforts in loads of ways throughout the month. We’re getting friends and family together to ‘bake some noise’ with coffee mornings and afternoon teas to tickle the tastebuds.
 Or maybe you’d prefer to ‘dress louder’ and impress friends and colleagues at work or school by wearing something shocking – whether that’s your tackiest tie or stripiest socks.
Whatever you raise, you’ll be helping - £50 could help 200 people to learn about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. And £100 could enable 200 GPs to update their knowledge of ovarian cancer. 
Target Ovarian Cancer is offering readers free balloons, posters and symptoms information to make your fundraising a success – call 020 7923 5474 or visit targetovariancan cer.org.uk/startmakingnoise. 
Start Making Noise. Shout about the symptoms. Early diagnosis saves lives.
Yours faithfully,
Gaby Roslin, Target Ovarian Cancer Ambassador