After he was diagnosed with a brain tumour six years ago, one Leeds resident is calling on people to join him for Brain Tumour Research’s annual spinathon challenge.

Rory Burke, 46, who lives in Leeds, will be dusting off his trainers and riding his bike on Saturday 3^rd February 2018 for the charity’s annual On Yer Bike challenge, which will provide funding for research into the disease.

After suffering from a seizure while driving to work in early 2012, Rory was diagnosed with a brain tumour and immediately underwent surgery and treatment to control it. Since his diagnosis Rory has rediscovered his love of exercise and even took part in the spinathon challenge last year, despite undergoing chemotherapy at the time, raising over £3,500 to go towards vital research into the disease that changed his life forever. He is now appealing for the people of Leeds to join in helping raise vital funds for research into brain tumours.

Rory, said: “Over 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK, though little is known about the disease. Exercise has paid such a crucial part in both my emotional and physical wellbeing since I was diagnosed.

“Whether you participate in the event as a team at your local gym or take on a solo cycle challenge, anyone can get involved and pedal their way to funding more research into a disease that affects so many families each year.”

Brain Tumour Research is hoping to raise thousands of pounds from the event, which will go into research to find more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for brain tumours. Those participating in the challenge and raising £2,740 will fund a whole day of research at one of the charity’s Centres of Excellence, where pioneering research into brain tumours is taking place.

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.

Carol Robertson, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Stories like Rory’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue.

“We are extremely grateful to Rory for his support and are challenging people across the country to step up and ride for research! This is a fun event that all the family can get involved with and everyone taking part will be helping to make a difference.

“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. We would encourage anyone that would like to take part, to get in touch and register.”

The On Yer Bike initiative began as a local event and was inspired by Paul Halfpenny, 36, from Hadfield, Derbyshire. Paul and his wife Jen, 28, had been together for just a few months when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Together with their friends, the couple launched On Yer Bike and the campaign has so far raised £50,000. Unfortunately, six years after his diagnosis, Paul lost his battle against the tumour and passed away in 2014.

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Rory’s JustGiving page go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rory-burke and to register for the On Yer Bike event go to https://www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/on-yer-bike

For further information, please contact:
Lexie Jenkins at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867222 or 07591 206545 or Lexie.Jenkins@braintumourresearch.org

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.