“It’s a powerful example of the difference one bequest can make”

Leaving a gift in your Will to Arthritis New Zealand creates a legacy that can improve lives long into the future.  

One remarkable example is the bequest by the late Dorothy Ashbolt, whose foresight and commitment to helping others has transformed our understanding of lupus in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Dorothy came to New Zealand in the 1950s from the United Kingdom with her husband and two children. Sadly both her children died with lupus - her youngest daughter in her 20s, and her son in his 50s.  

A positive and lovely woman, Dorothy left the bulk of her estate to lupus research, in the hope that one day a cure for the condition would be found.  

At the time Arthritis NZ received her bequest there were significant gaps in our knowledge about lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thanks to this gift, Arthritis NZ established its first-ever Lupus/SLE Postdoctoral Fellowship and invested in research that otherwise would not have been possible.  

The Fellowship was awarded to Dr Chunhuan Lao from the University of Waikato, who spent three years undertaking groundbreaking research into lupus. Her studies examined who is affected by lupus, how the condition is treated, the outcomes experienced by patients, and the impact it has on both individuals and the health system.  

The findings have been significant. The research showed that Pacific peoples experience the highest rates of lupus in New Zealand, with Māori also disproportionately affected. It revealed concerning inequities in health outcomes and confirmed that people living with lupus are four times more likely to die than the general population. The work also highlighted opportunities to improve access to treatment and reduce the long-term burden of the disease.  

Importantly, the bequest did much more than fund a single project. It created momentum. The research has generated multiple publications in leading international journals, conference presentations, awards, and new opportunities for other researchers to investigate lupus and improve care for people living with the condition.  

Peter Fields, a friend of Dorothy Ashbolt and the Trustee for her Estate said he is delighted with the progress made during the past five years or more in the lupus research programme.

"Dorothy lost both of her children to lupus and she was adamant that she was going to try and find a way to help others also suffering from lupus, hence the research fellowship in which she left sufficient funds in her Will to get firmly established in New Zealand.

"Dorothy, despite the hardships in her life, was a very kind, positive person who had a very deep faith which showed in her every day thoughtfulness and generosity.

The evidence generated through the Fellowship is helping inform future research priorities, advocacy efforts, and conversations with health decision-makers. Most importantly, it is helping ensure that people living with lupus receive greater recognition, understanding, and support.  

September is Wills Month and we have a special opportunity if you haven’t already created a Will. Through our partner, Safewill, you can create a standard Will free of charge from 7 to 21 September 2026.  We will be sending further information about this special offer to you in the next few days.

If you leave a gift in your Will to Arthritis NZ you become part of the Arthritis Legacy Circle. This is a special group of people who will help future generations affected by arthritis either through research, advocacy or support programmes.  

If you would like to learn more about joining the Arthritis Legacy Circle, we would be delighted to have a confidential conversation with you about the many ways your legacy could help improve the lives of people affected by arthritis throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.