Two families, whose lives have been changed by brain tumours, are coming together to take part in charity walk to raise vital funds for research to find a cure.

Rebekah Clements, 23, from Guillemot Way in Aylesbury, was inspired to take part in the Grand Union Canal Walk after her mum, Gill Clements, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2008. Due to its location, doctors were unable to completely remove the tumour and Gill has since undergone numerous scans and tests to assess the next course of treatment.

Rebekah will be joined on the walk by her sister Kelly, brother Adam, nephew Edward and dad Paul. She is hoping to raise over £500 for Brain Tumour Research to find more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for brain tumours. 

This is the sixth year the canal walk has been held and over 100 people are expected to take part in the 11-mile walk along the picturesque canal on Saturday 30^th September 2017.

Rebekah said: “Research into this disease is really important to us, as brain tumours can affect anyone at any age, but no one knows what causes them. After the operation, it was hard on all the family to see my mum lose the ability to do simple day to day tasks, it just shows the impact that this disease can have. I hope our efforts will help raise awareness of the current underfunding for research into brain tumours.” 

Also participating in the walk is Lorraine White, her husband Trevor and their granddaughter Shannon Moore.

Shannon, 21, of Long Meadow in Aylesbury, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just nine years old and had to undergo emergency surgery.  Having endured further operations, radiotherapy and hormone treatment over the years, Shannon is now certified blind, and relies on Labrador guide dog Indy to help her get about. 

Shannon, said: “Indy will be helping me on along the walk, though I know he will be looking longingly at the water and wishing he could jump in for a swim, but he will just have to contain himself.

“I count myself as one of the lucky ones – brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone, at any age. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

The Grand Union Canal Walk will start at the Three Locks pub in Stoke Hammond, where walkers have the opportunity to purchase bacon butties to start the day. The group will then walk the 5 ½ miles to the Grove Lock pub, to enjoy a picnic or pub lunch.

At the end of the walk participants will be able to enjoy a charity menu at the Three Locks pub and a specially created ale, "Hops for Hope", from Leighton Buzzard Brewing Company. A percentage of both the menu and ale sales during the month of September will go to Brain Tumour Research.

Paula Rastrick, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “This is always a popular event for us, as the whole family can get involved. Many of those taking part know only too well the devastation a brain tumour causes. There is a strong sense of fellowship and sharing an experience, which is a very positive thing.

“We really appreciate all those taking part in the walk, as the money raised on the day will go towards research into the causes of brain tumours and improving treatments and ultimately finding a cure for this horrible disease.”

The registration fee is £10 for individuals and £20 for families.  All walkers will receive a medal for being part of our fantastic Fighting Force. Registration will take place between 9.15am and 10am on 30^th September and dogs on leads are welcome.

To register for the event or to find out more visit https://www.braintumourresearch.org

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Rebekah’s JustGiving page, go to http://www.justgiving.com/canalwalkfundraiser or you can make a donation via Shannon’s JustGiving page, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shannon-moore1

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on funding sustainable research to find a cure for brain tumours. We are building a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, £5.5 million was raised towards research and support during 2016.

We are campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The charity is celebrating a year of high-profile campaigning on this issue following the unprecedented success of its petition in 2016. Following that, Brain Tumour Research is now taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• They kill more children than leukaemia
• They kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• They kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease
• In the UK 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers
• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone, at any age
• Incidences of, and deaths from, brain tumours are increasing.

Please quote Brain Tumour Research as the source when using this information. Additional facts and statistics are available from our website including our latest Report on National Research Funding. We can also provide case-studies and research expertise for media.