Posted on 24th April 2012 by Liz in Fundraising
A massive vote of thanks to fundraiser, Phil Hutchinson, who managed to run the equivalent of three marathons in under 24 hours when he took part in The Oner over the weekend of 21st/22nd April – an eye-watering 78.6 mile run along the Jurassic coast-line in Dorset. Phil completed the event in around 23 hours, coming in 20th out of only 29 participants to finish. For the last 50 miles he really had to grit his teeth to carry on because one of his legs was so painful and, quite unashamedly, he was forced to walk the last two miles to the finishing line.
Phil was inspired to take part in this gruelling challenge because the best friend of his partner has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Angie, the mother of a 10 month old baby, suffered a stroke last year when she had brain surgery and was left temporarily unable to talk or move her right arm or leg. She is now making a good recovery from the stroke, but she is still unable to walk properly.
Phil is hoping to raise £2,740 to pay for a full day of research at our dedicated brain tumour research centre in Portsmouth and have a tile placed on our Wall of Hope . To sponsor Phil and help him reach his target, please go to www.justgiving.com/Phil-Hutchinson0
Posted on 8th April 2012 by Sue in News
April 5, 2012 - Up to £250 million invested in bringing advanced radiotherapy treatment to UK
Around 1,500 cancer patients a year will benefit from a cutting edge cancer treatment – Proton Beam Therapy – that will be available in London and Manchester, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.
Up to £250 million will be invested by the NHS in building Proton Beam Therapy facilities at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust hospital in Manchester and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Department of Health have set aside public capital for this scheme.
Proton Beam Therapy is a type of radiotherapy, which uses a precision high-energy beam of particles to destroy cancer cells. The treatment is particularly suitable for complex childhood cancers, increasing success rates and reducing side-effects, such as deafness, loss of IQ and secondary cancers.
Given the complex nature of the treatment and facilities, Proton Beam Therapy won’t be fully available in England until 2017. Until then, the NHS will continue to fund patients in need of Proton Beam Therapy to go abroad – either to Switzerland or the USA. By 2014/15 the NHS will be spending £30 million per year sending up to 400 patients overseas.
Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said:
“Developing a national proton beam therapy service is vital to ensuring our cancer facilities are world class. We have always said that it is patient outcomes which matter, and to get the best for patients we must always be looking to push the boundaries.
“In addition to improved success rates proton beam therapy reduces the side-effects which patients, particularly children, can suffer as a result of traditional forms of cancer treatment.
“Once this service is in place, The Christie and UCLH will boast unparalleled cancer facilities. It will mean more patients will be able to get this treatment, including those for whom travelling abroad for long periods is not possible.”
Andrew Lansley made a commitment to the programme in 2010 when he pledged over £50 million across the Spending Review period to allow up to 400 high priority patients to be treated abroad while we developed the business case to establish a national service here.
The Department of Health plans to introduce PBT services at The Christie and UCLH. The Department’s assessment shows this to be affordable and deliverable in the short term. The development of the service will be closely monitored and should further capacity be needed in the future, the preferred third site is University Hospitals Birmingham, subject to normal business cases processes and the views of the NHS Commissioning Board.
Posted on 30th March 2012 by Sue in Celebrities, Fundraising
This year’s ‘Wear A Hat Day’ sees the launch of our Celebrity Hat eBay auction.
The bidding starts today 30th March 2012, for 10 days and all proceeds will be donated to Brain Tumour Research to fund vital research into brain tumours.
Celebrities that have generously donated their hats for the auction include: Gillian Anderson, Matt Cardle, Bill Tarmey, Ian Reddington, Janet Street Porter, Lord Digby Jones and Jamie Oliver and some are even signed! Patron Philip Treacy, celebrity hat designer, has also donated a hat which is included in the auction.
Also included are our bespoke campaign hats developed by ‘Hat Maker of the Year 2010’ Kate Langrish and seen being worn by celebrities such as Sheila Hancock, Gillian Anderson, Darren Gough, Pete Waterman, Tom Chambers, Jason Done, Matt Cardle, Ian Reddington, Melanie Thaw and John Bercow.
So why not part with your pennies for your idol’s hat and raise some vital funds for Brain Tumour Research at the same time.
See the hats and downloadable poster – http://www.braintumourresearch.org/celebrity-hat-auction
Go to our eBay page NOW! www.ebay.co.uk search on Brain Tumour Research and select auction only
And please forward to all your contacts and attach the poster
Posted on 30th March 2012 by Sue in Lobbying
During a debate on assisted dying in the House of Commons this week, Guy Opperman MP for Hexham contributed using reference to his own diagnosed of a meningioma: “During the Budget debate last year, I collapsed in Central Lobby. It was not, I assure hon. Members, the Budget that made be ill, but a tumour the size of a small fist in the left part of my brain. I was taken to St Thomas’s hospital, where an A and E doctor advised me that I required a craniotomy to remove the meningioma from my brain.
That was extremely frightening. I was advised as to the likelihood of death, paralysis, loss of speech or sight, and so much more. It was a week before I had my operation. I was one of the lucky ones. I survived with a few scars and with no deficit whatever. However, I have to face up to the possibility that I might not have been so lucky. I had a week to contemplate the situation. It made me think about what might have been.”
Posted on 27th March 2012 by Sue in Lobbying
Monday 26th March saw John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons and James Arbuthnot, Chair of the brain tumour All Party Parliamentary Group joined by MPs: Andrew Selous – S W Beds, Anna Soubry – Broxtowe, Nottingham, Andrew Jones – Harrogate & Knaresborough, Peter Aldous – Waveney, Caroline Dinenage – Gosport, Matthew Offord – Hendon, Julian Brazier – Canterbury, Grahame Morris – Easington and Nigel Adams – Selby & Ainsty outside the Palace of Westminster to take part in a photo call in support of Wear A Hat Day and to raise awareness of the prevalence of brain tumours and the desperate need for funding for research, and the generous support of businesses, schools and clubs throughout the UK.
Pictured here from left to right – Andrew Selous, Nigel Adams, Matthew Offord, Caroline Dinenage, Andrew Jones, Anna Soubry and Julian Brazier.
All have either personal experiences of someone diagnosed with a brain tumour or have been influenced by their constituent, representing Brain Tumour Research member charities, Umbrella Groups and Supporters across the UK. Many others pledged their support but were not able to join the photo.
See what Anna Soubry, Peter Aldous, Nigel Adams, James Arbuthnot and Matthew Offord had to say about their reason for getting involved and why they think you should too: http://www.youtube.com/braintumourresearch
