Hat fever is sweeping the county as schools, businesses, and individuals across Lancashire sign up to support a national fundraiser for a brain tumour cure.

Taking place on Friday 29 March, the annual Wear A Hat Day fundraiser will see people don their hats across the county to raise vital funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity. It’s the UK’s premier brain tumour awareness event and has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by the charity 10 years ago.

Employees at Rossendales debt enforcement services will host a tombola and silent auction to raise funds on Wear A Hat Day, whilst students at Blackburn Central High School will be wearing their favourite hats into school to raise awareness.

Miriam Rathore, pastoral manager at Blackburn Central High School, said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in Wear A Hat Day this year and I can’t wait to see hundreds of students in their bright and colourful hats. It all goes towards an important cause and, with more than 900 pupils here, I’m sure it’s going to be a lively day!”

Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, the disease kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been to this devastating disease.

Andrea Pankiw, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research in the North West, said: “We’re delighted to see residents across Lancashire signing up to support Wear A Hat Day. There are some fantastic events lined up and it’s going to be our biggest, boldest and hattiest year ever.

“By signing up for Wear A Hat Day, people are helping us to raise awareness of the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. We cannot allow this situation to continue so please join us on Friday 29 March, wear a hat, and help fund the fight against brain tumours.”

Funds raised will develop the charity’s network of world-class brain tumour research centres in the UK where scientists are focused in improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

To get involved, or donate, please visit: www.wearahatday.org

Or text HAT to 70660 to donate £5*

#HATTASTIC

* 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:

Farel James at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867221 or 07592 502708 or Farel.James@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 ground-breaking research 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) which published its report Brain Tumours A cost too much to bear? in 2018. Led by the charity, the report examines the economic and social impacts of a brain tumour diagnosis. We are also a key player 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.