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Volunteers are vital to our charity - could you donate your time or skills to our cause?
Our amazing team of volunteers play a vital role in supporting our work. Without their dedicated time and commitment to our cause, our work wouldn’t be possible.
We rely on volunteers who help out in all sorts of ways including:
- Supporting us at our Head Office with admin and fulfilment
- In the community at fundraising events, by selling Christmas cards on our behalf, or by processing our collection tins.
- Virtually from home, supporting our Digital Marketing team with online campaigns and social media.
While every volunteer has different motivations, they all share a common goal: to help us find a cure for brain tumours.
Here are just a handful of people who give up their time to volunteer for Brain Tumour Research:
Emma
Emma started volunteering at Brain Tumour Research in October 2017, after her husband Brian had been diagnosed with a brain tumour the previous year. She helps at our Head Office and enjoys the sense of community she gains from her volunteering.
Emma said: “Brian and I had been together for more than 30 years when he was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma after suffering a seizure at home. He underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He now suffers with memory loss and balance issues and has had to give up the career he loved in cyber security.
“I decided to volunteer at Brain Tumour Research to give something back. I am often in, along with other volunteers, helping to send out merchandise to charity supporters for their fundraising events and challenges. I love the sense of community my role as a volunteer brings, as well as working with a regular team each week. We have really got to know each other over the time I have volunteered and I count them as good friends.
Shannon and her grandmother, Lorraine
Lorraine started volunteering at the charity’s head office in 2012, to give something back after her granddaughter Shannon had been diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was nine years old.
Lorraine said: “Shannon was diagnosed in 2005 with a craniopharyngioma brain tumour after suffering with headaches. She has undergone quite a number of surgical procedures over the years to remove a cyst, but the tumour itself couldn’t be removed because of its location in the centre of her brain. Shannon also has had radiotherapy, as well as hormone treatment to ensure she continued to grow properly, because the tumour was near the pituitary gland.
“Her most recent craniotomy in 2014, when she was 17, resulted in Shannon losing the sight in her right eye and she has very limited ‘letter box’ vision in her left eye. Shannon now walks with a white cane and has a Labrador Retriever guide dog called Indy, who helps her remain independent.
Claire
Claire was diagnosed with an intraventricular meningioma in 2008 and underwent surgery, which left her with life-changing effects including vision loss, memory loss and seizures. Claire joined us as a digital volunteer in 2021, supporting our Digital Marketing team online.
Claire said: “I came across Brain Tumour Research a number of years ago and have done lots of fundraising in the past. I was delighted to come onboard as a digital volunteer in February 2021, helping out with the charity’s 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge.
“I monitored the Facebook Group, replying to people’s comments and answering their questions. It was really exciting to be part of the buzz and to cheer on supporters as they took part in the challenge.
Sally
Sally volunteered at our post-race reception at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. She supports the charity after her daughter, Jenna, died from a brain tumour in November 2019, aged 33.
She said: “Jenna was diagnosed with a brain tumour just a few weeks before I was due to run the London Marathon in 2014. I deferred my place for a year but wasn’t able to train as I was taking her to appointments so I gave my spot to a family member.
“I’ve run five marathons for charity previously and spurred a lot of people on to raise money. So, in 2019, I decided I wanted to give something back and volunteered to help at Brain Tumour Research’s post-race reception. I helped decorate the venue with balloons and banners, and also welcomed people when they arrived after their race. It was very busy, but I loved the buzz and the atmosphere on the day.
