Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

As you may know in 1961, at the age of 30, my Dad Peter was diagnosed with his first brain tumour.  He survived his first operation and over the next 30 years he went on to have another eight brain tumours and also had to endure other surgical procedures and illnesses.

Since his death the family and I have tried to raise as much funds as possible for the Brain and Spine Foundation and the St Francis Hospice.   There have been discos, 10K runs, Balls, a theatre production.... 

What am I doing this all for?

 

 

 

 

Every year in the UK , 650,000 babies are born and research suggests that 1 in 4, at some point in their life, will develop a neurological problem. These problems include conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, head injury, meningitis and encephalitis. Although most children survive, many are left with the effect of an acquired brain injury, including learning difficulties, behavioural and emotional problems or developmental delay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• It is known that more than 10% of children have illnesses that can cause acquired brain injury. Most of these children will return to their families and schools with little or no assistance or information for their parents, siblings, friends and teachers, on how to best care for them.
• The problems associated with acquired brain injury are vast and of varying severity. They range from temporary difficulties, which can be resolved with rehabilitation and time, to permanent, complex problems which have an impact on the social, behavioural, physical and intellectual development of the child.
• These young people with neurological problems often go on to become adults with neurological problems with needs that change over time. These can include issues of support and advice related to medical information, welfare, sex and relationships, and access to health care including complimentary therapies. These often complex and diverse requirements present a huge challenge to existing health, social and welfare services to work in an integrated and coordinated way. Unfortunately, it is a challenge that is not always met satisfactorily.
• The Brain and Spine Foundation aims to be responsive to the needs of children, young people and adults with acquired brain and spine injury by giving timely and appropriate information. This commitment is reflected in their existing information services and developing projects.
• The Foundation needs £5 each time they reprint one booklet about a neurological condition. They currently have 31 booklets and usually reprint 1000 copies of each of them.
• They need £10 to send an information pack to each Helpline caller. They have responded to over 20,000 calls since they launched the Helpline in 1998.
• They need £20 every month to continue to provide a website. They have had 110,000 visitors to the Website in the past 12 months and a doubling of visitors from 9,513 in Jan 2006 to 18,246 in Jan 2007. 
•  They need £50 for each hours’ training for a school psychologist
• They need £50 to keep the Helpline going for an hour. The Brain and Spine Helpline is a free and confidential service, open from Monday – Friday 9am-1pm.
• They need £100 for each child with a neurological condition to attend one of their activity days. The Foundation has been talking to children and young people who have brain and spine conditions. They told them that they want to talk to other children and young people who have had similar things happen to them. They also told them they definitely want to have fun whilst they are doing this. This led the Foundation to hold its first fun day in June 2005. The charity would like to hold another fun day soon.

  Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Brain and Spine Foundation will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
  
  So please sponsor me now!
  
  Many thanks for your support.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Russell