Brought together by their shared experiences, the charities, Ali's Dream (North London and Northern Home Counties), Andrea's Gift (Yorkshire), Brain and Spine Foundation (National), Brain Tumour Action (Scotland and Northern England), Brain Tumour Research Campaign (London), Brainwaves (Northern Ireland), Charlie's Challenge (Sussex & Kent), Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre (East Midlands), Ellie Savage Memorial Trust (East Anglia) and Hammer Out (South West) are rallying the support of MP's, organising fundraising activities up and down the country, and engaging their local press and radio stations to promote awareness.

We are also closely aligned with The Brain Tumour Foundation (National)

Each of the charities has a different focus brought about by their own experiences of the needs of the Brain Tumour Community. Brain Tumour Action, The Brain Tumour Foundation, Brainwaves, The Brain and Spine Foundation and Charlie's Challenge were started over ten years ago, whilst Ali's Dream, Andrea's Gift, Brain Tumour Research Campaign, The Ellie Savage Memorial Trust and Hammer Out have only just started out.

Ali's Dream – North London and Northern Home Counties

Funding Research into Childhood Brain Tumours

Ali's Dream was launched in June 2001 following the loss of Alison Phelan three weeks before her eighth birthday. Horrified by the lack of funding for research and the prospect that it is unlikely that a cure will be found in the next five years, Alison's family and friends set up the charity with the objective of raising funds for research into childhood brain tumours

•  Discovering the causes

•  Advancing treatments

•  Finding a cure

The trustees have established a scientific and medical advisory board and invite applications for funding via leaflet distribution at relevant conferences and contacting known research units. The charity will fund scientific, medical and patient / carer qualitative / quantitative research in pursuit of their objectives. Since June 2001 they have raised nearly £300,000 and the first research project funded by Ali’s Dream was started in October 2003.  In November 2004 they granted funds for a further four research projects.

Tel: Sue Farrington Smith – 01296 730230
Email: sue@alisdream.org.uk

Andreas Gift - Yorkshire

Brain Tumour research and support for children and adults throughout Yorkshire

Andrea's Gift was formalised in June 2002 following the loss of great friend and colleague Andrea Key at the age of 42, just eight months after diagnosis. An active lady throughout her life, Andrea left a partner and two teenage children.

With Andrea's support and backing fundraising began early 2002 to establish a laboratory and dedicated brain tumour research centre in Yorkshire . In addition the charity seeks to provide equipment for brain tumour patients and provide respite care for patients and relatives.

They are currently part funding a research project at St James hospital and early results are very encouraging.

Tel: Carol Robertson (Chair) - 01274 785092
Email: crobertson@emeraldinsight.com

Brain and Spine Foundation – National

Prevention, treatment and care of people affected by disorders of the brain and spine

The brain and spine foundation was set up in 1992 to develop research, education and information programmes aimed at improving prevention, treatment and care of people affected by disorders of the brain and spine and to stimulate the greater allocation of resources across all neurological disorders.

Information is provided in the form of booklets, a helpline and their website, including Headstrong – all about brain tumours designed for children aged between 7-12 years.

Since 1995 they have ran an active research programme, support ing a number of innovative projects and have spent over £1m on 15 projects covering a wide range of subjects including brain tumours.

Tel: Sharon Swain – 020 7793 5900
Email: webenquiries@brainandspine.org.uk

Brain Tumour Action (BTA) – Scotland and Northern England :

Support and information for the Brain Tumour community

BTA was granted charitable status in 1993. BTA arose out of a need from Brain Tumour patients and carers attending the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh to have someone to talk to and to realise that there were other people going through the same problems and experiences as themselves. BTA's 5 aims are:-

•  Support for people diagnosed with a BT and their relatives

•  Counselling for those who wish it

•  Information on BTs

•  Education about BTs

•  Research into BTs and their treatment

They provide information leaflets, have set up support groups throughout Scotland and England and funded several research projects

Tel: 01506-436164

Email: chair@braintumouraction.org.uk

Brain Tumour Research Campaign – London

Funding the set up of a research centre of excellence at Charing Cross Hospital

 Set up in September 2003, under the auspices of the Way Ahead Charity, recognising the fact that there is currently no effective cure for malignant brain tumours and that patient survival has not changed appreciably over the last few decades.

Vision: To raise public awareness of the need for brain tumour research and the lack of funding that currently exists by a series of fundraising events and applications for research grants among corporate and medical bodies

Mission: To fund a multi-tiered research project to improve our understanding of brain tumour biology and improve current treatment strategies

Strategy: A combined programme of research and use of state of the art clinical equipment bringing together the skills of clinicians in the Department of Neurosurgery at Charing Cross Hospital and the Division of Neurosciences at Imperial College London.

Tel: Wendy Fulcher – 020 8601 2402
Email: wendy@wayahead-btrc.org

Brainwaves – Northern Ireland

Providing information and support for Brain Tumour patients their families and carers

Brainwaves' was set up in 1994 by Billy Ferguson a brain tumour patient who responded to an appeal by Pam Wilson another brain tumour patient at the Royal Victoria - Belfast.

Both had discovered that there was no support available. Brainwaves' remains the only charity to provide support for Brain Tumour Patients in Northern Ireland , they provide information booklets and support through monthly meetings and home and hospital visits.

In addition they provide financial support through one-off grants and invite patients and carers on outings, events and holidays.

They have donated money to the Royal Victoria Hospital Brain Tumour Research Appeal and have also distributed information packs to every GP practice in Northern Ireland .

Tel: Kate Ferguson – 028 9337 2505
Email: brainwavesni@hotmail.com

Charlie’s Challenge – Sussex & Kent

Raising funds for research into children’s brain tumours

Charlie’s Challenge was established in 1993 after Charlie Boutwood, then aged 20 months, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Against the odds he has made a remarkable recovery and is now enjoying life to the full, which in itself is a great inspiration to help find a cure for the less fortunate.

Money is raised through fund raising events and donations and Charlie’s Challenge ensures that every penny received is spent on worthwhile research into children’s brain tumours.

The charity’s objective is to improve the outlook for children with brain tumours

● To fund research
● To raise awareness
● To cure this dreadful disease

Having originally contributed to various brain tumour research projects, in 2000 Charlie’s Challenge was able to fund an entire £121,000 three year research project into ependymomas at the Institute of Neurology, University College London. In 2001 it co-funded a £140,000 three year project at the University of Newcastle to develop new therapies for an improved success rate in the treatment of paediatric medulloblastomas. In 2004, it was able to continue funding research into paediatric medulloblastomas by co-funding another £163,000 three year project at the University of Newcastle.

Charlie’s Challenge is also proud to have helped finance a £200,000 time-lapse microscopy facility at the University of Portsmouth.

Tel: Nigel Boutwood - 01825 872508
www.charlieschallenge.com

Email: charity@boutwood.net

Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre – East Midlands

Every year in the UK 450 children are diagnosed with a brain tumour, we think that's 450 too many

Championed by David Walker and Jonathan Punt, who recognised that childhood tumours are neglected and under funded, they persuaded Nottingham University to adopt their cause in 1997. Effort is concentrated in the East Midlands and they have national coverage. To date the centre has raised almost £1m towards its target of £1.25m.

Objectives: Using both science and medicine

•  To understand tumours better

•  To provide better treatment

Emma Roberts– 0115 951 3724

Ellie Savage Memorial Trust – East Anglia

Brain Tumour research and the support of children with cancer in East Anglia

Ellie was born on 23 rd September 1988 along with her twin sister Cassie, together with older brother Adam and younger sister Natalie the Savage family was complete. This changed dramatically in December 2001 when, after suffering epileptic fits for 2 months a scan showed that Ellie had a brain tumour. Following a 6 hour operation a biopsy revealed she had a grade 4 glioblastoma multiform, a most aggressive form of brain cancer. Ellie died on 11 th November 2002 aged just 14.

The Ellie Savage Memorial Trust was founded in February 2003 to provide support to families who find themselves in a similar situation.

The aims of the charity are

•  Support to families who have a child with cancer or a brain tumour

•  Access to relevant information

•  To raise awareness of this devastating disease

•  To fund research into brain tumours

Hammer Out – Bristol

Raising awareness, funding research and providing support to the Brain Tumour community in the South West.

Hammer Out was started in March 2002 as a small fundraising group to raise awareness of brain tumours and the needs of those affected by them as well as raising money for brain and cancer related charities.

The name “Hammer Out” was created out of founder member Paul Mitchell’s avid support of his football team West Ham ‘The Hammers’ United - hence the claret and blue theme. Paul was diagnosed with a grade IV glioblastoma brain tumour in July 2001 and died in January 2003, leaving his wife Tina (co-founder) and young son John.

Hammer Out has now been launched as a registered charity in memory of Paul. Some of the charity’s funds have been allocated to support the development project at Frenchay Hospital: “implementation and audit of chromosome 1p and 19q deletion analysis for guiding the treatment of patients with malignant brain tumours.” The charity has also set up and maintains a support group in Bristol for people with brain tumours, their families and carers.

Hammer Out would like people experiencing the shock and bewilderment of the diagnosis of a brain tumour to know that they are not alone and that they have others to whom they can turn.

Tel: Tina Mitchell – 01454 414355
Email: tina@hammerout.co.uk