Local police officers have switched their everyday helmets and headwear for hats of all shapes and sizes, to raise funds for scientists working to find a cure for brain tumours.

Officers and staff at the Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Bridgwater Police Centre, have joined many others across the country to get involved in Wear A Hat Day which, this year, takes place on Thursday 29^th March across the UK.

Members of the team, based at Express Park in Bridgwater, have been inspired to take part in support of their colleague, rural beat manager, PC Jim Murray, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Jim’s wife, Ally also works at the police centre as a missing persons coordinator. The couple, who have been married for 30 years, live in Bridgwater and have recently become grandparents.

Jim and Ally were given the devastating news in early January after Jim had been suffering from headaches, vomiting and disturbed vision. Tests confirmed that he had a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour, and three days later, he underwent gruelling surgery to debulk the tumour. Jim has recently started radiotherapy and chemotherapy to try to slow down the growth of the tumour.      

Ally said: “Jim’s diagnosis has been a huge shock to us all, especially as he’s only 51 and has recently become a grandad.  He’s coping really well with his treatment and is determined to fight this horrible disease. The support shown by our family, friends and colleagues has been incredible and we’d like to thank everyone for their kindness. Everyone who knows about what Jim and anyone else who has a brain tumour is going through is getting behind Wear A Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research. Many thousands of families are affected by brain tumours every year, and a lot more research is needed to understand what causes them and ultimately find a cure.” 

Ally and Jim were able to join colleagues for an early Wear A Hat Day on Wednesday 7^th March, when a cake sale and raffle, as well as donations to wear hats raised a total of £455 for the charity, with donations still coming in.

Wear A Hat Day has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by the charity Brain Tumour Research nine years ago and is the culmination of Brain Tumour Awareness Month in March. The big day will see schools, workplaces, families and individuals across the UK fundraising and taking part in fun events to raise awareness of brain tumours and help fund life-saving research.

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. Funds raised through Wear A Hat Day 2018 will develop the charity’s network of world-class brain tumour research centres in the UK.

Emma Cronin, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone, at any age. We are extremely grateful to everyone at Bridgwater Police Centre for getting involved and hope people will support them and be inspired to hold their own events. It’s as easy as wearing a hat and making a donation!”

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:
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 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.