Pooches and families have taken a step towards a brain tumour cure by participating in a sponsored walk.

Those taking on The Great Western Dog Walk enjoyed a brisk stroll from Marazion to the Penzance promenade, with a backdrop of St Michael’s Mount and the visiting Flying Scotsman. The four-mile fundraiser took place in bracing conditions and amblers were treated to a free pasty and a drink along the way.

Organised by West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas, this year’s walk, on Saturday 6^th October, raised funds for Brain Tumour Research and Brain Tumour Support.

Joining supporters on the day, Mr Thomas said: “These two charities both do tremendous work to raise funds and awareness for a cancer which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet has historically received just 1% of the national spend on cancer research.”

Mr Thomas, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours, added: “The weather forecast for the morning was pretty horrific and put a few people off but, in the event, it wasn’t bad at all – a bracing morning to clear the cobwebs and with the great bonus of the Flying Scotsman paying her first ever visit to west Cornwall.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part, raising funds for two such worthwhile charities as well as Great Western Railway, Headland Printers, St Aubyn Estates and the Rotary Club of Penwith for their support, and Sgt Dave Tomlinson and the Penzance Army Cadets for marshalling the event so well.”

Michael Thelwall, Head of Community Fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: “The walk was an exciting and fun way to get the whole family and their pets together and raised much-needed funds and awareness for a vital cause. We are extremely grateful for Derek’s support and thank everyone for coming along and taking in the spectacular Cornish coast.”

Brain Tumour Research funds dedicated UK Centres of Excellence, including its centre at the University of Plymouth, where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

To donate to Brain Tumour Research go to https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donation/donate-now

For further information, please contact:
Annie Slinn at the Brain Tumour Research charity 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 dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours, and we are a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer.

We are building a network of experts in sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence whilst influencing the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more nationally.

We welcome recent funding announcements for research into brain tumours from the UK Government and Cancer Research UK – £65 million pledged over the next five years. However, this potential funding of £13 million a year comes with a catch – money will only be granted to quality research proposals and, due to the historic lack of investment, there may not be enough of these applications that qualify for grants from this pot.

We want research funding parity with breast cancer and leukaemia. We are calling for a £30-35 million investment every year for research into brain tumours in order to fund the basic research groundwork needed to accelerate the translation from laboratory discoveries into clinical trials and fast-track new therapies for this devastating disease.

The Brain Tumour Research charity is a powerful campaigning organisation and represents the voice of the brain tumour community across the UK. We helped establish and provide the ongoing Secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brain Tumours (APPGBT).

We are supporting the crucial APPGBT 2018 Inquiry into the economic and social impacts of brain tumours and will publish their report in the autumn. We are also a key influencer in the development strategy for the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

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

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