Brighton’s renowned Guitar, Amp and Keyboard Centre (GAK) is supporting a world record attempt in aid of research into brain tumours.

The Great Guitar Challenge is raising money for the Brain Tumour Research charity at this summer's Ealing Blues Festival, taking place on Sunday 22^nd July.

GAK, which has the largest range of electric, acoustic and bass guitars in the UK, is supporting challenge with a raffle prize – a brand new Fender Squire Bullet Stratocaster guitar. Event organiser Dave Pile, who lost his mum to a brain tumour, is hoping to achieve the world record by recruiting 450 guitarists to play ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie.

Roy Chudobskyi, guitar shop manager at GAK, said: “We are privileged to be donating a Fender Squier Bullet Strat to the raffle which will run alongside Dave’s challenge. When we heard about the world record attempt, we instantly wanted to be involved; 450 electric guitarists playing Heroes en masse is going to be incredible and as it’s also for a great cause, we’re determined to help make it happen.”

Adding a glimmer of stardust to the event, Scott Fuller, lead singer of tribute band The Thin White Duke, will accompany the ensemble on vocals. The event is also being supported by sponsors Blackstar amplification, who will provide a new Blackstar Fly 3 micro amp for all participants.

Scott said: “David Bowie's ‘Heroes’ – a triumph of hope over adversity – seems the perfect song choice. It will be an honour to be part of it and we hope that many more musicians will think the same and sign up to the event.”

June Pile died in March 2013 following a short and gruelling battle with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive type of tumour. Despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she died less than six months after her diagnosis.

Lifelong guitar enthusiast and carpenter Dave said: “I’m so grateful to the team at GAK for supporting this event. Without their support it wouldn’t be possible, and their industry contacts and expertise have been invaluable.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer – and less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers – yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Michael Thelwall, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Dave’s world record attempt is going to be spectacular and I hope it will raise awareness of how underfunded research into the disease is.

“We are extremely grateful to GAK for supporting this fundraising event and wish Dave, and everyone involved the best of luck for the world record attempt.”

Guitarists can register for the event via Eventbrite; the ticket price includes a donation to Brain Tumour Research and entitles participants to a new Blackstar Fly 3 micro amp, a t-shirt to mark the event and a free day’s entry to the Ealing Blues Festival.

Great Guitar Challenge Video: https://youtu.be/VgrCkfmlMt4

Great Guitar Challenge Website: www.greatguitarchallenge.com

For further information, please contact:

Annie Slinn at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867239 or 07591 206545 or annie.slinn@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 have established a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, over £6 million was raised towards research and support during 2017.

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 unprecedented success of our 2015 petition led to the 2016 Westminster Hall debate and Brain Tumour Research taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research with the report being published in 2018.

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.