Two teachers are helping to fund the fight against brain tumours with a ‘Zumbathon’ fundraiser at their school in Barnet.

Natalie Denyer and Michele Chelotti, teachers at Northway School, have both been bereaved by brain tumours – a disease which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Shocked by the fact that, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this disease, they are challenging themselves to a full morning of non-stop Zumba in aid of the Brain Tumour Research charity. On Saturday 26 January, the teaching duo will combine cardio and high intensity moves with Latin and World rhythms for four hours of non-stop exercise.

Edgware resident Natalie said: “We run Zumba classes after school as it’s a great opportunity for Northway parents to get fit and active. Then we thought we’d combine our love of Zumba with our plan to fundraise towards research into brain tumours. It’s a cause extremely close to our hearts so we would appreciate all the support we can get. Please sponsor us or donate £3 and come long on the day to join!”

Natalie’s nephew, Charlie Carter-Bates, died from a brain tumour aged just seven-years-old. He was diagnosed in early 2010 after months of migraines, sickness and eye pain, and despite surgery and treatment, Charlie passed away less than a year later. Following Charlie’s death, his parents set up a Fundraising Group, under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research, called Charlie Charges On.

Natalie, 25, added: “My beautiful nephew Charlie was taken from us in such a cruel and devastating way. No child should have to face what he did, and no family should have to mourn their seven-year-old son. I’m proud to be supporting Charlie Charges On and fundraising in Charlie’s memory.”

Fellow teacher Michelle is motivated by the loss of a close friend who died aged 18 in April 2018. Michelle said: “My friend James was diagnosed in January 2017 and passed away less than two years later. I was devastated, not only by his death but also by how high the odds are stacked against brain tumour patients. I hope as many people as possible will support our Zumbathon and help to make a difference.”

Janice Wright, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Thank you to Natalie and Michelle for supporting us and helping to raise vital funds towards research. We hope they have lots of fun on the day and reach their target.

“Charlie’s and James’ stories remind us that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age. For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer and we cannot allow this situation to continue.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence in the UK; it also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35m in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Natalie and Michelle’s JustGiving page, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ZumbathonBTR

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.