Charity chief Sue Farrington Smith is once again appealing for people to join a national spinathon challenge to help find a cure for brain tumours.

Sue, who lives in Padbury and is Chief Executive of the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research, is appealing for people to join an army of supporters across the country who will be thundering through the miles on exercise bikes in return for sponsorship.

Money raised from the national event will fund vital research at a network of Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

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.

Sue has lead a team of cyclists for the last three years but is handing over the role for 2018 to Carol Robertson who is the charity’s Head of Community Fundraising. Carol is recruiting team mates to join her and get on their bikes on Saturday 3rd February 2018 at Buckingham’s Swan Pool and Leisure Centre. They are aiming to reach a team target of £2,740 to fund a day of research at one of four Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence.

Carol said: “Sadly, brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any time. I am challenging people to step up and get pedalling; this is a fun event with a serious message and everyone taking part will be helping to make a difference.

“I need at least 24 people to join me to pedal with us for at least one hour between 11.30am and 3.30pm for On Yer Bike for Brain Tumour Research. And those who want to be involved but are unable to cycle can also help by volunteering at our charity stand, welcoming participants and handing round refreshments.”

This will be the third time an On Yer Bike for Brain Tumour Research event has been held in Buckingham. On one previous occasion Sue was joined by the Rt Hon John Bercow MP for Buckingham and Speaker of the House of Commons, who is also a patron of the charity.

To join the team in Buckingham contact Carol Robertson on 07817 878407 or email Carol@braintumourresearch.org. Carol is also the contact if you would like to hold your own event or join a team elsewhere please.

The first On Year Bike event was held by Derbyshire couple Paul and Jen Halfpenny. The couple had only been together for a few months before Paul became unwell. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and passed away in 2014. The event, now held in Paul’s memory, has raised more than £50,000.

More information at https://www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/on-yer-bike

For further information, please contact:
Susan Castle-Smith at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867206 or 07887 241639 or Susan@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
• 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.