Four 13-year-old Hertfordshire schoolboys have set themselves a challenge of climbing Scotland’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours.

Good friends Abe Yantin, Jonah Horne, Malakai Shaffer and Ben Goodkind, who all met at primary school, were inspired by Malakai’s eight-year-old cousin Roi who was diagnosed with a brain tumour and is currently undergoing treatment to try and beat the disease.

Abe from Elstree, Ben and Jonah from Bushey, and Malakai from Radlett, are looking to raise over £2,500 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research, which is dedicated to funding research into the devastating disease.

They will climb Ben Nevis on 1^st September. Last year they climbed Snowdon in Wales and next year it will be the turn of the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, bringing them to the end of their Three Peaks Challenge.

Jon Yantin, who is Abe’s father, said: “This challenge was all the boys’ idea and is a real physical challenge for children of their age. They really do see themselves as fortunate to be healthy teenagers and able to enjoy an incredible range of sporting and cultural activities. There are children out there that are not so lucky and struggling with physical and mental challenges, which means they can’t do what the boys can. They are ‘unable to climb’ so as per our climb last year – we’re climbing for them”.

Carol Robertson, Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful to the boys for their support and taking on such an amazing challenge. 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.

“The money raised by the boys will help to fund the vital work at our four Centres of Excellence around the country, where world-leading research into the causes of brain tumours and improving treatments is taking place. We wish Abe, Ben, Jonah, Malakai and all those climbing with them the best of luck with their amazing challenge”.

The sum raised will be split between Brain Tumour Research and OCD Action, a charity which also is close to the boys’ hearts, supporting children with problems ranging from OCD to anxiety. 

To make a donation to the boys Ben Nevis climb go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abe-ben-jonah-malaki-walking-team you can also make a direct donation to Brain Tumour Research here  https://www.braintumourresearch.org/donation

Brain Tumour Research is campaigning to see the national spend on brain tumour research increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast and leukaemia, in order to advance treatments, and ultimately find a cure.

For further information, please contact:
Lexie Dabney at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867222 or 07591 206545 or lexie.dabney@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.