Event Producer, Ben Carter, is taking on the challenge to abseil down the iconic Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth in aid of Milton-Keynes based charity Brain Tumour Research.

Ben, 35, from Newport Pagnell, was inspired to take on the challenge in honour of his wife, Julie, who is living with a brain tumour. Diagnosed in 2005 when she was just 23, Julie has undergone numerous operations and treatments to beat the disease, however due to its location options are limited. Ben is hoping to raise over £500 for the charity, which funds vital research into the disease.

Ben, who is an Event Producer and Owner of White Event Production in Milton Keynes said: “My wife has been living with a brain tumour for over 10 years and she is amazing at not letting it interfere with daily life. It’s a sad fact that brain tumours can affect anyone at any time, but no-one knows what causes them.

“Not many people know that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer but just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Knowing this, I’m happy to be raising awareness and funds for such a worthy charity.”

Standing at an impressive 94m tall, the Spinnaker Tower is the highest building in Portsmouth, and offers breath-taking views of the Solent and beyond. With his parents and grandparents originating from the Portsmouth area, Ben thought it was a fitting challenge to take on.

Many of those joining Ben on Saturday 9^th September 2017 have also been affected by brain tumours and are participating in memory of a family member or friend taken by the disease. 

Tim Green, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “The money raised from the abseil will help to fund the work at our four Centres of Excellence, including our flagship centre at the University of Portsmouth. This is where world-leading research into the causes of brain tumours and improving treatments is taking place.

“For too long, brain tumours have been a neglected cancer. Stories like Julie’s remind us all that we cannot allow this desperate situation to continue. We would encourage anyone that’s had their lives touched by this disease or would like to support the charity to get in touch and get involved.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Ben’s JustGiving page, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/whiteeventproduction

If you are interested in take part in the abseil, please contact tim@braintumourresearch.org or visit www.braintumourresearch.org to find out more.

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.