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Where Didthey Get Those Hats?

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Where Didthey Get Those Hats? IN THIS We are Yorkshire’s leading brain ISSUE: tumour charity, providing funds WHERE DID THEY for brain tumour GET THOSE HATS? research and patient support. 5 X 10 = £7,300 THE BIG BIKE RIDE BTRS NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 Welcome... …to the new format BTRS tri-yearly happy to help you understand how we can newsletter that will keep you updated with help you or your family if you are undergoing, just some of the work we are doing, the news or have undergone, brain tumour treatment, we want to share and the fundraising fun or if you want to support the work we do by that Yorkshire’s leading brain tumour charity volunteering or fundraising: [email protected] supporters have been involved with over recent months. Carol Robertson, our Charity Development RaCheL wiLSon CaRoL RoBeRTSon Manager, is busy working on new partnerships If you don’t know us and are interested in to drive forward the brain tumour research are holding throughout the year – you can finding out more, you can contact Rachel taking place in Yorkshire as well as organising find out more about these on our events page Wilson, our Office Manager, who will be some of the great fundraising events BTRS on the website: http://events.btrs.org.uk Happy birthday to us! BTRS celebrated its 10th birthday with a party at the Grosvenor Casino, Leeds. Founded in 2003, and originally named “Over the past 10 years BTRS has met many what we have. The success of BTRS comes Andrea’s Gift, BTRS is actually the UK’s incredible people and has also been forced down to the tenacity and determination of largest regional charity offering a holistic to say goodbye to some of the most our supporters and that is what makes our service to all brain tumour patients, adults inspirational people I have ever met, who achievements both special and personal.” and children, as well as their families and have bravely and valiantly fought this carers, through support and research. dreadful disease with dignity and courage,” The number of people coming to BTRS for says Carol Robertson, one of the founding support continues to grow; the charity has BTRS is committed to giving support to members of the charity and Charity a strategy that will see it, over the next 10 those in need across the Yorkshire and Development Manager. years, work at increasing brain tumour Humber region, ranging from physical awareness, campaigning for a higher level of interventions to online information, advice “We have raised almost £1.8m and are very funding for brain tumour research nationally and guidance. In addition BTRS co-funds, proud of the brain tumour research lab based and ensuring those people in Yorkshire and with Candlelighters, the Translational at the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. Humber that are diagnosed with a brain Neuro Oncology Group at Leeds Institute When we started on this journey, I don't tumour have a more positive prognosis – the of Molecular Medicine. think any of us thought we would achieve facts are frightening and need to change. Where did you get that hat? The BTRS team always enjoys wear a hat day, which takes place in March, Brain Tumour awareness Month. and this year, we were delighted to welcome two yorkshire MPs to the party. Throughout March, Charity Development Manager Carol Robertson and Office Manager Rachel Wilson encourage people to take part in the awareness-raising campaign. Yorkshire MPs Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor and Labour MP for Morley and Outwood, and Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East, visited the Translational Neuro- oncology Group at Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine to find out more about the biggest cancer killer of the under-40s, which receives less than 1% of central ed BaLLS MP and FaBian haMiLTon MP(SeCond and ThiRd FRoM LeFT) and CaRoL RoBeRTSon (FaR LeFT) government funding towards research. MeeT SoMe oF The TRanSLaTionaL neuRo onCoLoGy GRouP aT LeedS inSTiTuTe oF MoLeCuLaR MediCine “We estimate that over 1,000 people a year concerns of their constituents; this is why an opportunity for people to show their are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the raising awareness is so important.” support to local brain tumour charities and Yorkshire and Humber region,” says Carol. our fantastic research lab here in Leeds which “Once our brain tumour fighters, their In a week when budgets were high on the supports patients and their families from families and carers realise the low amount of agenda for Ed Balls, he still found time to across the region. I will continue to work with funding made available for research many of meet with the team at BTRS and visit the local campaigners to do more to ensure them contact their MPs to lobby for change. Institute. “I’m delighted to have been able to there is a national centre of excellence for Across our region we are finding more and join local campaigners to mark this research in this area, and more support for more MPs are interested in the brain tumour Awareness Month’” he said. “Wear a Hat Day is those affected by this devastating disease.” 5 x 10 = £7,300 when Susie watson’s world was turned upside down in May of last year, BTRS was there to help. During one of the many hospital visits that this year to run five sponsored 10k races, one became part of everyday life Susie saw a each weekend throughout March, Brain poster for BTRS across Yorkshire, Yorkshire Tumour Awareness Month, and an impressive and Humber’s leading brain tumour charity, 50k in total. and decided she would give them a call. He also set himself the additional challenge Soon Susie and Scott were part of the of completing each race in under 40 minutes, monthly support group in Leeds. and was determined to raise £5,000 for BTRS. “BTRS were so welcoming, and the other His plans were slightly hindered by the friends and family have been – even patients and their family members at the snowy weather: he completed Blackpool, strangers have donated and supported a support group were just so keen to chat and Sheffield, Dronfield and Ennis in Ireland, but great cause,” says Scott. “When you know that get to know us,” says Susie. “It really helped us the Bradford 10k on 24 March was snowed less than 1% of national cancer research and soon we became part of a ‘family’ that no off and Scott had to replace it with the Bolton spend is given to brain tumour research yet it one really wants to be part of, but that all help 10k on Sunday 21 April. But he used the delay is the biggest cancer killer of the under-40s each other to face the situation they’re in.” to persuade further sponsors to donate, and you have to do something to help. BTRS his total raised now stands at over £7,300. offers caring support at such a difficult time Scott wanted give something back to BTRS for Susie and I – the least I could do was get and set himself a target at the beginning of “We can’t believe how generous colleagues, my trainers on and do a little bit of running.” BTRS NEWSLETTER JULY 2013 The BIG Bike Ride The BTRS Big Bike Ride 2013 took place on may never cycle again after the appalling the Bedfords Group, who ensured those a very wet and soggy Saturday in May. Over weather conditions they experienced. But people choosing to return to Wetherby by 100 people cycled the 65 miles from people didn’t get downhearted: they just coach were reunited with their bikes when Wetherby to Scarborough – and eight hardy pedalled on to raise funds for us, and the they got there. souls even cycled back again! money keeps coming in. Some cyclists have done the ride every year We’d like to thank everyone that took part The BTRS Big Bike Ride will take a circular since it started nine years ago, some were and those that volunteered along the way. route next year; more information will be cycling for us for the first time – and some Special thanks go to our corporate sponsors shared with you in future newsletters. BTRS FoRThCoMinG evenTS Par excellence Catwalk queens We’re delighted that Sir Ian Botham, Registration begins at 11.00am and includes Save the date: Wednesday 6 November – one of our patrons, will join our Annual Golf a bacon sandwich and coffee. There will be a fashion show. BTRS will be getting you ready Day on Thursday 5 September at Sandmoor shotgun start at 12.30pm and the day will for winter and the party season with its Golf Club, Leeds, to celebrate our 10th end with a three-course prize-giving dinner Winter Days and Party Nights fashion show at anniversary year. from 6.00pm. the Leeds Marriott Hotel. This glittering event Sir Ian will address the golfers and hopes that The cost for a team of four will be £500.00. will start at 6.30pm – if you’d like to strut your this will be the most successful golf day in Please contact [email protected] for further stuff on the catwalk, do let us know: contact the charity's history. information. Rachel at [email protected] if you fancy Run For All York 10K seeing york BTRS is one of the official charity partners of £22.00 each (includes a running vest or t-shirt) from a different this invigorating alternative to an open-topped and, as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, perspective, bus tour.
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