A Milton Keynes charity has raised thousands of pounds with its annual spinathon challenge, funding vital research into brain tumours.

The On Yer Bike event, organised by Shenley Wood-based charity Brain Tumour Research, saw fundraisers from as far as Yorkshire to Devon dust off their gym kits and thunder through the miles to raise thousands of pounds for research into the devastating disease. With donations still coming in the event looks to raise around £20,000.

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.

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.

Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We challenged people to saddle-up and ride for research, and they didn’t disappoint.

“We would like thank everyone who saddled-up on Saturday 3^rd February 2018 for raising essential funds and awareness. Eventually, we will conquer this devastating disease.”

On Yer Bike began as a local fundraiser and was inspired by Paul Halfpenny, 36, from Hadfield, Derbyshire. Paul and his wife Jen, 28, had been together for just a few months when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Unfortunately, six years after his diagnosis, Paul lost his battle against the tumour and passed away in 2014.

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research go to https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donation

Brain Tumour Research’s next event is Wear A Hat Day on 29th March. For more information go to: wearahatday.org 

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.