The team at the Coventry Building Society’s Head Office at Binley Business Park donned their favourite hat in support of Brain Tumour Research’s annual Wear A Hat Day 2018 on Thursday 29^th March, to help fund vital research into the disease.

The annual Wear A Hat Day event has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by Brain Tumour Research nine years ago. The money raised has gone on to fund important research that is taking place at the charity’s four dedicated Centres of Excellence, where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Over 40 staff from across the organisation held a day of fundraising activities including a Best Hat Competition, a bake sale and a raffle, with prizes including massive Easter eggs, city breaks and novelty gnomes.

Harjort Kalirai, Digital Experience Specialist from Coventry Building Society commented: “It was wonderful to support such a worthy cause and raise awareness for brain tumour research which has historically received just 1% of the national spend on cancer research.”

The head office was decked out in Wear A Hat Day balloons and posters to help drive awareness of a disease which affects thousands of people each year - In the UK 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Lewis Jones, Digital Experience Specialist from Coventry Building Society commented: “The whole team got involved in Wear A Hat Day, some creating their own Easter bonnets, others bringing in sombreros and even a Harry Potter style sorting hat! We really enjoyed fundraising for this hattastic event.”

Greg Judge, Public Affairs Officer for Brain Tumour Research who attended the event, said “It’s been great to see so many staff donning their hats and raising money for Wear a Hat Day 2018. We would like to thank everyone for their support. Every year thousands of people are given the news that they have a brain tumour and often the treatment options are limited. The money raised from these events will go towards pioneering research that is taking place at our dedicated Centres of Excellence around the country.”

Brain tumours 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. Funds raised through Wear A Hat Day 2018 will develop the charity’s network of world-class brain tumour research centres in the UK.

To get involved, or donate, please visit: www.wearahatday.org or text HAT to 70660 to donate £5*

#HATTASTIC

* Texts cost £5 plus network charge. Brain Tumour Research receives 100% of your donation. Obtain the bill payer’s permission. Call 01908 867200 with any queries.

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 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.