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Have-a-go basketball players are taking part in a high profile event to raise money for scientific research into brain tumours.

The Brain Tumour Research Basketball Challenge is dedicated to the memory of Caroline Johnson who was working at the National Marine Aquarium and studying for her Masters at Plymouth University, when she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Caroline defied the odds and was able to spend a few precious months at home with husband Marcus Cronin and their baby Florence before she died in October 2013 at the age of 32.

Keen basketball player Marcus, of Commercial Road, Plymouth, will be among those taking part in the Basketball Challenge on 3^rd September when a number of matches will be played at Plymouth School of Creative Arts ahead of a black tie dinner at the New Continental Hotel.

Among the teams taking part will be the newly-created Brain Tumour Research Warriors. Coach Troy Woodhouse has put together a team of people who have been effected by Brain Tumour related issue and will be put through an eight week training programme before competing on the day.

“Marcus is a great player and the more I talk to people the more I realise how many people, like him, have been affected. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating
disease.

“Our aim is to raise awareness and raise funds. The event will be a great day for everyone involved and will include a real treat as former Plymouth Raiders coach Jay Marriott, is bringing over a team from Utah that will compete against a team of Plymouth and District Basketball League All-Stars,” said Troy.

Peter Jordan, who lost his father to a brain tumour and is now Community Fundraising Manager for Brain Tumour Research in the south west, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone involved in organising this event and are looking forward to some great sportsmanship and lots of fun.”

On the night, the basketball gala at The new continental hotel will include:

• Red Carpet welcome with drink on reception

• 
Professional photographer


• Three course meal from Paul Doidge, one of Plymouth’s finest chefs


• A silent auction and raffle for amazing prizes


•Basketball break-dance tribute by Street Factory CIC


• DJ to dance the night away


The ‘WORLD PREMIER’ of the Unity Through Basketball charity documentary


Guest speaker from the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence

...and for the first time ever in a UK hotel...

A ‘live’ free throw contest & slam dunk competition

Anyone interested in the Black Tie Dinner can purchase tickets here: http://origintickets.co.uk/store/?event=168 or email Troy at troy@wearegammaray.co.uk for anymore information.

The money raised will support pioneering work which is taking place at a network of Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence including one at Plymouth University. The team there is led by Professor Oliver Hanemann and is focusing on identifying and understanding the mechanism that makes a cell become cancerous. The scientists are exploring ways in which to halt or reverse that mechanism. An innovation will be testing new drugs in human primary cell cultures leading to innovative phase 0 trials. It is hoped that this will be followed by adaptive phase II/III trials with the potential for making drug therapies available to patients safely and more quickly.

Read
Caroline’s story here

https://www.braintumourresearch.org/uploads/document/Caroline%20Cronin%20Web%20Version.pdf

www.braintumourresearch.org