A Milton Keynes charity is calling on businesses across the area to get involved with a national fundraising campaign to help find a cure for brain tumours.

Shenley Wood-based Brain Tumour Research, is appealing for businesses to join schools, families and individuals across the area to support their annual Wear A Hat Day campaign on Thursday 29^th March 2018 to help raise vital funds for research into brain tumours.

Through fundraising and taking part in fun events, the Wear A Hat Day campaign has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by the charity nine years ago. Coinciding with Brain Tumour Awareness Month in March it raises awareness of brain tumours and helps fund vital research.

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.

Funds raised through Wear A Hat Day 2018 will develop the charity’s network of world-class brain tumour research centres in the UK. It costs £2,740 to fund a day of research at one of Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

Sue Farrington Smith MBE, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sadly, we hear so many stories of people in the local area being personally affected in some way by this devastating disease. It’s so touching to see people embrace Wear A Hat Day, their dedication is genuine and inspiring. Alongside passionate supporters up and down the country, we can’t wait to put our hats on, have some fun and raise money to fund sustainable research that will bring us closer to a cure for brain tumours.”

The charity is again partnering with Hobbycraft, the UK’s largest craft retailer, who are running in-store events and donating a percentage from sales of their exclusive ‘Pink Glitter Side Hat’ to the charity. Opticians, Specsavers will be supporting Wear A Hat Day 2018 as an official sponsor for the first time.

Among celebrity supporters of this year’s campaign is the businesswoman, model, actress and mum Caprice Bourret, who underwent surgery to remove a low-grade brain tumour which was diagnosed nearly a year ago and continues to be monitored by her medical team.

Caprice said: “I’m proud to be working with the charity and all those taking part in Wear A Hat Day. I want everyone to get involved! It’s such a fun event and anyone can take part. Let’s all put our hats on and do something positive and support the fantastic research going on right now. I’m determined to try to make a difference for the 16,000 people diagnosed with a brain tumour each year.”

To register for Wear A Hat Day, please visit: www.wearahatday.org

Or text HAT to 70660 to donate £5* #HATTASTIC

If you are a business and are interested with collaborating with the charity please contact Michele Gray on 01908 867236 or on michele.gray@braintumourresearch.org

* 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.