An Aylesbury grandmother, who has taken part in a Walk of Hope along the Grand Union Canal for the last four years, is this year leaving her walking shoes at home to help out on the day as a volunteer.

Lorraine White of Ingram Avenue has supported the Brain Tumour Research charity since her granddaughter, Shannon Moore, now 22, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was nine years old and had to undergo emergency surgery. Having endured further operations, radiotherapy and hormone treatment over the years, Shannon, who is certified blind, relies on her guide dog, Indy, to help her get about. Now in her final year at the University of Portsmouth, Shannon also completed the Grand Union Canal Walk last year and the year before with her nan, as well as her mum Paula of Long Meadow in Aylesbury.

Lorraine, who works regularly as a volunteer at the Brain Tumour Research head office in Milton Keynes, said: “The way Shannon gets on with life, despite her difficulties, is truly inspiring. She counts herself as one of the lucky ones because 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 walk is a lovely way to raise funds while enjoying the peace and beauty of the canal and surrounding countryside.”

Michael Thelwall, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re extremely grateful for Lorraine’s support and urge others to join us on the 29^th September to help put an end to this horrible disease.

This will be the seventh year we have held the walk, which is always a popular event for us as the whole family can get involved.

“The money raised will help us in our mission to build a network of experts in sustainable research. We are funding dedicated UK Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer and we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. Sadly, less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.

“We would encourage anyone that would like to take part, to get in touch.”

The registration fee for the Walk of Hope is £15 for individuals and £20 for families. All walkers will receive a t-shirt and, upon completing the walk, be awarded with a medal for being part of the charity’s fantastic Fighting Force.

To register go to www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/take-on-a-challenge and click on Grand Union Canal Walk.

For further information, please contact:
Liz Fussey at Brain Tumour Research on 07811 068357 or liz@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 basic research groundwork 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). We are supporting the crucial APPGBT 2018 Inquiry into the economic and social impacts of brain tumours and will publish their report in the autumn. We are also a key influencer 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
• 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.