News

• Andrew Lansley sets out NHS plans at All Party Brain Tumour Group Meeting

  A packed All Party Brain Tumour Group (APPG) meeting provided an opportunity for around 60 members of the Brain Tumour Consortium to quiz Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, over his plans for the NHS and to seek reassurances that the proposed new Health Bill will not set back brain tumour care.

   

  The meeting was chaired by James Arbuthnot MP and started with short presentations from Professor Garth Cruickshank, Consultant Neurosurgeon and brainstrust advocate and brain tumour patient Daryl Gittins.

   

  Prof. Cruickshank appealed to the Secretary of State to ensure that the NICE’s Improving Outcomes Guidance remains an integral part of the care pathway and stressed the need for earlier diagnosis, citing evidence from Birmingham which shows that 85% of brain tumours initially present, not through Primary Care, but through casualty.

   

  Patient Experience

   

  Daryl outlined his differing experiences in Swansea and London explaining that his initial NHS Oncologist in Swansea made crucial decisions without any input from him. Ultimately these proved to be inappropriate whereas the treatment he received in London, after seeking advice from brainstrust, turned out to be less complicated and more suitable. He...

  
  
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  Category: Campaign News | Published: 31 January 2012

• Running to Remember - Kirsty Lovick

  

  Kirsty Lovick began running to relax and clear her mind after her Dad, Richard, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She has since raised over £2,800 to help brain tumour patients and carers across the country.

   

  Kirsty (on the right in the picture) has kindly shared with us her moving story about running to remeber her Dad, and to help others who are battling a brain tumour. It's moving stuff, so hanky at the ready...

   

  "As a nurse I want to be able to make a difference to my patients, and I know that this is what brainstrust do."

  I began running soon after dad's diagnosis as an escape to clear my mind and to relax, in September 2010 with three other nurses from my ward we ran a 10k raising a large amount of money for cancer research.

   

  Dad wanted to cheer us on but he was too unwell to come with us, it wasn't until we were on the home straight and there he was waiting for...

  
  
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  Category: Charity News | Published: 19 January 2012

• Clayesmore school in Dorset raises £2000 for our work

  A MASSIVE thank you to everyone at Clayesmore school who worked extra hard last year and raised an astonishing £2000 for our work with brain tumour patients and carers.
  
  The funds raised will keep our 24/7 phone and email support line open for a month, or pay for 40 more brain boxes, or more than cover the cost of the second edition of our Little White Book. What a lovely decision for us to be able to make!
  
  The fundraising kicked off when we attended an assembly at Clayesmore school early in 2011 where the children learned all about the Snaggle Tooth Splat.
  
  We're grateful for everything the team at Clayesmore have achieved for us so far. Thanks guys!
  
  For the full story, click here: http://www.clayesmore.com/prep/news?article=181
  
  
  
  
  
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  Category: Fundraising News | Published: 11 January 2012

• Say 'hello' to the Little White Book.

  Back at the BNOS meeting in June we helped the Association of Neuro Oncology Nurses with their part of the event. One of the things that came out of the meeting was a need for an offline resource to accompany the brain tumour hub. A resource that signposted all the support services available to brain tumour patients and their carers.

   

  We took this on board, did some work with 'the brainstrust', and out popped the Little White Book.

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  Category: Charity News | Published: 6 January 2012

• Southern Electric staff say 'thank you' to brainstrust.

  Staff at Southern Electric are helping to improve the outlook of our brain tumour patients and their carers, thanks to a recent fundraising campaign which raised over £625.

   

  A team from Southern Electric’s customer service centre in Penner Road, Havant, were so impressed when they heard how brainstrust had supported a close friend, that they were determined to find a way of giving something back.

   

  Hollie Pearce, who co-ordinated the fundraising, explained: “A very close friend of mine passed away last year, after battling with a brain tumour. She received huge support from brainstrust which enabled some of her treatment to happen, and made life a lot easier for her.

   

  “Southern Electric gives us the opportunity of taking one day away from the office to do community work for causes which are close to our hearts, so I used my community day to go round to local businesses and ask whether they could donate prizes for a raffle. Companies were very generous, and among my prizes were signed team photos from Arsenal...

  
  
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  Category: Fundraising News | Published: 3 January 2012

• 12000 brainstrust christmas cards have just arrived...

  Please can you buy a pack? It means we'll be able to see our office floor again; your order keeps the postman warm (twice); people love getting them; and it means we can do more cool stuff for people with a brain tumour.
  

  
  

  No, in all seriousness, we've a unique approach to Christmas cards that makes this a really great way for you to support our work. Instead of buying into a scheme where we see say 10% of a the purchase price, we seek corporate sponsors to cover the print and production costs of our cards. They get to choose a design, and if they want, can place a small logo on the back. In return, we get to spend 100% of the proceeds on our work to support people coping with a brain tumour diagnosis at what can be a very tricky time of year. Frankly, we can't see why all charities don't adopt this approach - it's such a mutually beneficial exercise for all involved. Even the postman!

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  Category: Charity News | Published: 6 December 2011