Colleagues at Community Windpower Ltd, a Cheshire based energy company, took on the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours.

With good weather on their side, 30 employees including directors, Rod and Diane Wood, took on nearly 40km of rough terrain to climb Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, to raise £20,000 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research.

The challenge was organised by the couple after their brother-in-law, Gavin Dickinson, passed away from a brain tumour in 2017 at the age of 56. Having previously climbed mountains such as Ben Nevis and Scafell, the couple chose to challenge their work-force to scale the three peaks to fund research into the disease.

Diane said: “It was a great day and I am so proud of the team for completing the climb in aid of a cause so close to our hearts. So many families are affected by this disease and I hope our efforts will help draw attention to the underfunding of research which has gone on for far too long.” 

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.

Andrea Pankiw, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “The money raised from the walk will help to fund the work at our four dedicated Centres of Excellence, where world-leading research into the causes of brain tumours and improving treatments is taking place.

“We really appreciate Community Windpower Ltd’s support and congratulate the team on completing their challenge. Sadly, less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.”

To make a donation to Community Windpower Ltd’s fundraising page, go to https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/CWLChallenge2018

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.