Advancing bowel cancer research

Bowel cancer has received a generous $15 million bequest from Elwin à Beckett, a resident of Wellington, NSW.

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. It is the second most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia and is increasingly becoming linked to other chronic diseases.

When she died in May this year, à Beckett left the bulk of her estate to the University of Sydney to advance research into bowel cancer. In honour of her much-loved brother Martin, who died from the disease in 1986, The William Arthur Martin à Beckett Cancer Research Trust has been set up to support research into better understanding bowel cancer and interrelated diseases.

The university is considering using the funds to purchase essential equipment, fund postgraduate scholarships and to recruit a new Chair: the Elwin à Beckett Chair for the Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Bowel Cancer.

The gift comes via the trust company, which has managed Elwin’s affairs prior to her death and is now trustee and sole executor of her estate.