The Brain Tumour Charity

Earlier this year, 52,000 of you backed our campaign calling for a National Brain Tumour Strategy. People affected by a brain tumour diagnosis can’t keep waiting for change. They need improvements across the care pathway—and they need them as soon as possible. That’s why it’s time to demand action on a National Brain Tumour Strategy! We’ve created a letter for you to send to your local MP, highlighting the challenges facing the brain tumour community. Use the link below to get matched with your local MP and send the letter. There is also space for you to share your personal experiences of being affected by a brain tumour diagnosis and explain why you’re demanding change. This will be included in your letter. Don’t forget to share this campaign widely—we’re heard so much more loudly when more people demand change. A National Brain Tumour Strategy can’t wait. Head to the link to demand action now. https://bit.ly/3Uf7wZG

This #InternationalBrainTumourAwarenessWeek, we are sharing our new partnership with Centre Think Tank which is helping us spread our National Brain Tumour Strategy campaign further, faster. Centre's Director and Founder - Torrin Wilkins - has a personal connection to The Charity as a family member is living with a low-grade brain tumour. His passion for improving the situation for the brain tumour community is evident in the guest blog post that he's written for our website. #IBTAWeek #BTAW2024 https://bit.ly/3BZrykN

Last week, we brought our Young Ambassadors back together in London for an inspiring training day filled with fun, laughter, and important discussions on how we can continue to move further and faster towards a cure. The day began with a fascinating lab tour led by Professor Juan Pedro Martinez-Barbera and his team at UCL, where they shared insights into their ground breaking research on high-grade paediatric gliomas, funded by our Quest for Cures grant. After a quick bite to eat, the afternoon was spent brainstorming ways to shape and grow our Young Adult service in the wonderful space kindly provided by DLA Piper. A heartfelt thank you to Professor Juan, the team at UCL, and DLA Piper for hosting us, and to our Young Ambassadors for their tenacity and commitment in advocating for the needs of young people facing a brain tumour diagnosis. Your incredible energy and support for one another are truly inspiring. We’re in awe of you all!

This year, our Future Leaders programme has invested over £1 million into new research projects with the potential to improve care across different brain tumour types. This funding supports a new generation of brain tumour researchers who have the potential to change the research landscape and help us accelerate a cure for brain tumours. The projects focus on high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma and meningioma. And aim to improve our knowledge and pave the way for new, more effective treatments that will help people facing this devastating diagnosis. https://bit.ly/3NG2xOk

In August last year, Helen's youngest son, Dominic, was diagnosed with a brain tumour—just days after the family returned from a holiday, making the news even more shocking. Within four days of the diagnosis, Dominic underwent surgery to remove the tumour. Shortly after, they learned it was cancerous, requiring a year of intensive treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence. Despite the challenges, Helen and Dominic are grateful for the advancements in brain tumour research and the support of programmes like the Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence. Dominic was able to receive the "gold standard of treatment" at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, a leading Centre of Excellence in brain tumour care. Determined to give back and support The Charity's mission to fund world-class research, Helen completed a 50-mile walk from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to Blackpool Victoria Hospital over two days. Dominic joined Helen and friends for the final stretch, before heading to the children’s ward at Blackpool Victoria to ring the end-of-treatment bell. Having raised an incredible £20k for The Charity, a heartfelt thank you to Helen and Dominic for their incredible strength and determination, helping to accelerate progress toward a cure.

We’re thrilled to announce that registration for The Twilight Walk 2025 is officially open! Whether you choose to walk it your way and complete your own Twilight Walk or come together in London on 22 March, every step you take and every penny you raise will help people with a brain tumour live longer and better. Tap the link in to register for your place today! https://bit.ly/4eVm2y3

"'You have a brain tumour' are the five words that changed our lives for the foreseeable future. You never think something like this is going to happen to you, but when it does, your whole world revolves around something that you know nothing about - It's terrifying. Your life stops when you're diagnosed with a brain tumour." - Kimberley When 27-year-old Kimberley was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she knew nothing about the disease. She received the diagnosis after her husband and son found her in bed after a seizure at home. Kimberley has had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat her Grade 3 astrocytoma, and while this is standard of care for this type of tumour, treatment options are limited. We hope that our Future Leaders funding will help Dr Antonio Fuentes-Fayos find better ways to treat these aggressive brain tumours. https://bit.ly/3Yv6ECW

Brain tumours can escape attacks by the immune system. Our new Future Leader, Dr Antonio Carlos Fuentes-Fayos, aims to find better treatments for high grade brain tumours by studying tiny protein pieces called the immunopeptidome. These proteins can activate the immune system to fight cancer. By understanding how these proteins change during tumour growth and after treatment, Antonio hopes his findings could be used to design better, personalised immunotherapies for brain tumour patients. https://bit.ly/3Uca6zF

"📢 'I had very little warning before a brain tumour diagnosis turned my life upside down' – Matthew shares his experience after being diagnosed with an astrocytoma following unexplained seizures. ⚽ Matthew never imagined a brain tumour would be the cause of his symptoms. Just days after his first seizure, he was preparing for surgery. His journey continues with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and he's determined to help others facing a similar diagnosis. Matthew now shares his story on Instagram and also travelled to Westminster on February 29th to lend his voice to our campaign for a National Brain Tumour Strategy. You can also catch his story in Channel 4’s Stand up to Cancer programme this autumn. Thank you so much Matthew for helping raise vital awareness of the realities facing those living with a brain tumour. You can read more of his story by heading to the link below. https://bit.ly/4f7J5FR

Yesterday Dr Scott Arthur MP introduced a Private Members Bill that would incentivise research and investment into the treatment of rare types of cancer. Data published by the Institute of Cancer Research shows that between April 2017 and March 2021, the lowest recruitment to clinical trials was seen in people diagnosed with brain cancer. This, coupled with poor prognoses, means there is an urgent unmet need to overcome barriers to new treatments and to create a research-based culture in the UK which will encourage progress in brain tumours and other rare diseases. Bringing in legislation that incentivises industry to find more, effective treatments has its risks, as has been seen in other countries. But there are few alternative approaches available that will encourage high-cost drug developments and make a meaningful difference to our patient community. With colleagues at The Brain Tumour Charity, I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders on this Bill and applaud Dr Scott Arthur MP for introducing it.