brainstrust

Stephen Venables, the mountaineer, writer, broadcaster and public speaker, has agreed to become the latest patron of brainstrust. Our director Helen said:

We are delighted to welcome Stephen Venables on board as a trust patron. Sadly, his eldest son, who had autism, died from a brain tumour and he wrote a touching best-selling book, Ollie.

Stephen is passionate about promoting public understanding of the need to do more to provide solutions for people with brain tumours and is very keen to do an after-dinner tour.

Stephen Venables was the first Briton to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen, reaching the summit alone by a new route. He has climbed successfully for over 40 years, with many first ascents of previously unknown mountains to his name. www.stephenvenables.com

Stephen has become brainstrust's fifth Patron, joining Professor Peter Black MD PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and rated as one of the top ten doctors in the USA; Andrew McEvoy FRCS, a leading brain tumour Consultant Surgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London; Paul Grundy FRCS, a brain tumour Consultant Surgeon at the Wessex Neurological Unit in Southampton and former BBC newsreader, Jan Leeming.

Paul Grundy, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton, has agreed to become a patron of brainstrust. Our Director Helen said:

Paul wants to play an active role and has agreed to help us develop the information needed for patients and for other healthcare practitioners, which will go onto our website.

“Paul is very well read and keeps up with latest research on brain tumours. He will be an excellent campaigner for brainstrust and his appointment will also strengthen our presence along the South Coast.

Paul Grundy joins brainstrust's three patrons: Professor Peter Black MD PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and rated as one of the Top 10 doctors in the USA; Andrew McEvoy FRCS, a leading brain tumour Consultant Neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London; and former BBC Newsreader, Jan Leeming.

brainstrust's Boad of Trustees has been selected as one of three finalists in the Wessex Charity Awards Trustee Board of the Year category! This is a real recognition of the hard work and support that they have provided and strong testimony to all of brainstrust's many achievements.

We are extremely proud of everyone who has volunteered their time and effort to support brainstrust. Without their amazing dedication and generosity of spirit we could never have become the proactive young charity we are today. It is so wonderful to see everyone's hard work recognised and a pleasure to know there's even more success still to come. Thank you!

Josh Hill, Trustee

There will be a Gala Awards dinner at The Rose Bowl on 26th February at which the winning board will be announced - a bit like the Oscars for charity! Fingers crossed.

Stroud School is delighted to announce that it has adopted brainstrust as its annual charity. It is looking forward to supporting our proactive young charity and is starting off as it means to go on, by holding a Charity Concert in aid of brainstrust. This will be held in the Andrew Sanger Davies Hall, on Monday 15 December.

Stroud School is a successful independent school, sited just outside Romsey.

Our intrepid founders Helen and Peter decided they wanted to be closer to the sea and sailed with their home and dogs in tow to West Cowes last week.

For all of you that rely on brainstrust for advice and support please update your address books. Although don't worry all your post and phone calls will be forwarded to the new brainstrust HQ on the Isle of Wight to smooth the transition.

Please update your address books

brainstrust HQ
4 Yvery Court
Castle Road
Cowes
PO31 7QG

01983 292 405

NB: their email addresses have not changed and are still This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We wish Helen and Peter the very best for their new home on the island. It's good to know the Red Jet ferry to Southampton only takes 20 minutes so they're not far away!