Story
<p>One of our Trustees, Peter Gwilliam, was very kindly offered the opportunity of a guaranteed place in the London Marathon by the Chief Executive. His decision was that this place should be used to help support two charities close to his heart.</p>
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<p class="p1">A good friend Kate Pickard will run on the 17<span class="s1">th</span> April 2011 to raise funds for both the NET Patient Foundation and The George Pickard Fellowship. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NET PATIENT FOUNDATION WILL SHARE ALL FUNDS RAISED 50/50 WITH THE GEORGE PICKARD FELLOWSHIP.</p>
<p class="p1">This is Kate’s story:</p>
<p class="p1">Virgin London Marathon 2011</p>
<p class="p1">My life as I knew it changed dramatically on the morning of 22<span class="s1">nd</span> September 2008. That morning was just like any other, until I received a phone call from an ambulance paramedic explaining that my husband George had collapsed and was on his way to hospital. Four days later he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, an illness that would change everything for all of us.</p>
<p class="p1">George’s gruelling treatments started in September 2008; brain surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy enabled him to have a longer and better quality of life, so that he could spend time with all the family and especially our 3 young children.</p>
<p class="p1">Before George was ill I was a runner, but throughout George’s 18 month illness running suddenly became much more than a weekend hobby. It gave me an outlet for my stress and frustration; and it provided a bit of “me time”. I made a promise to George that no matter what happened I wouldn’t give up running and one day I’d run a marathon.</p>
<p class="p1">Sadly despite his incredible courage George died on 28<span class="s1">th</span> March 2010.</p>
<p class="p1">Following his death we realised that there is little awareness of the disease and a serious lack of money for research.</p>
<p class="p1">Currently brain tumour research receives only 0.7% of cancer research spending in the UK despite the fact that:</p>
<p class="p1">· Brain tumours are the most common cause of cancer death in children under the age of 15.</p>
<p class="p1">· More men under 45 and women under 35 die from brain tumour then any other cancer.</p>
<p class="p1">We have created a fund in George’s name – The George Pickard Fellowship.</p>
<p class="p1">The George Pickard Fellowship (operating with Brainstrust and Brain Tumour Research Campaign) will create and fund a research post at Imperial College London. A key element of the post will be to provide a link between the clinical service and the neuro-oncology laboratory. This sharing of knowledge and data will help to develop novel technology and optimise tumour resection.</p>
<p class="p1">Hopefully we can increase awareness of this devastating disease, and in the future some diagnosed with George’s condition may survive.</p>
<p class="p1">On 17<span class="s1">th</span> April 2011 I will be able to keep my promise to George and will be running my first ever marathon - arguably the best and most famous, ‘The Virgin London Marathon.’</p>
<p class="p1">Kate Pickard.</p>
<p class="p3">We ask you to please sponsor Kate in the knowledge that funds raised will go to two great causes. Donations can be made by clicking on the ‘Just Giving’ icon to the right and we will arrange for donations to be equally shared</p>
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