A wizards and witches dinner dance has been held to help raise funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The ghoulish event, which was held on Saturday 3 November at The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa in Milton Common near Thame, saw more than 100 revellers young and old arrive in their most terrifying costumes.  A swing band made up of Aylesbury Grammar School students provided impressive music to dance to while magician James Prince entertained guests who dug deep into their pockets for an auction, a heads and tails game and a raffle. The total raised on the night was £3,000 with additional funds still to be counted.

Organised by Sherry Scott MBE, Phil Johnson, Gordon and Margaret Rogers, Jeff and Sally  Millard and Steve Back, the ball commemorated loved ones and Margaret’s son Patrick Gardner who died from a brain tumour at the age of 17.

Patrick was a pupil at Bloxham School near Banbury when he was diagnosed aged 16, but died despite surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy treatment.

Gordon, of Long Crendon, said: “I was Patrick’s step father for nine years after I married his mother and it was heart-breaking to learn that there would be no cure. He was cared for by brilliant physicians at the Radcliffe Royal Infirmary and the Churchill Hospital, both in Oxford, but nothing could save him”.

“It’s been 24 years since we lost Patrick and it’s shocking that even now less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.

“My grandson Curtis Rogers, who lives in Nash, is a member of the shoot syndicate at Padbury Hill Farm near Buckingham, so he is on good terms with Sue Farrington Smith, who set up Brain Tumour Research and is its chief executive, as well as her husband Justin, of course. It was Curtis’ suggestion that we held the magical evening for this worthy cause.”

Sue, who joined in the scary fun along with Justin, said in her address:  “Brain tumours are devastating. They are devastating for the patients; they are devastating for their families; they are devastating for the nurses and clinicians who have to break the news; and they are devastating for the researchers who want to find a cure.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Parents are losing their children and children are losing their parents. This is unacceptable and we cannot allow it to continue.

“It was such a fabulous evening and I can’t thank Gordon, Margaret and fellow organisers enough. I met so many lovely people and was touched by those who came to talk to me and share their own brain tumour stories, which I took back to my team. They give us renewed vigour to beat this devastating disease.”

Money raised from the event is going to Brain Tumour Research which is funding dedicated UK Research Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure. Historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours and the charity is lobbying the government and the larger cancer charities to increase this.

You can make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via www.braintumourresearch.org/donation/donate-now

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
• 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.