We're taking on the Purplewave challenge to deliver the breakthrough families are waiting for

Brain cancer is one of the most devastating diseases a family can face. It takes more children’s lives than any other cancer. At The University of Manchester, researchers are racing to change that.

Why Manchester?

For over 200 years, Manchester has turned world-changing discoveries into real impact – from splitting the atom to isolating graphene. Now, we’re mobilising our community to take on one of the toughest challenges of all: brain cancer.

Challenge Accepted.

Every moment matters

Researchers have already made incredible progress – but families affected by brain cancer can’t afford to wait. Your support will:

- Scale up our brain cancer team

- Back early-career researchers

- Drive urgent studies and test new therapies

- Speed up diagnosis and improve treatment options

Together, we can bring hope to patients and families everywhere.

Breakthroughs already underway

Professor Petra Hamerlik and her team at The University of Manchester are pioneering advances, including:

- A fast, pain-free test that can detect brain cancer using tears

- Genetic tumour profiling in just 90 minutes to help tailor treatments

With your help, these discoveries can be turned into life-saving treatments faster.

Petra Hamerlik, Chair of Translational Neuro-Oncology

Supporting the next generation

Early-career researchers bring bold ideas and fresh energy, but short-term funding often cuts promising work short. Your support will help retain brilliant minds, attract new talent, and give researchers the tools and time they need to succeed.

Laura’s legacy

Laura Nuttall was just 18 when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. She defied the odds and lived five extraordinary years, raising awareness and supporting research. Her family continues her mission today.

Your support today will help make Laura’s wish a reality.

Laura Nuttall, Manchester graduate and passionate advocate for brain cancer research

Challenge Accepted

Whether it’s improving early detection, testing new drugs, or finding better ways to care for patients, your support helps Manchester minds move faster. Together, we can deliver the breakthrough families are waiting for.

And by taking part in Purplewave 2026, you’ll help tackle brain cancer head-on.

Want to take part as a team?

You can fundraise as a team for Purplewave 2026.

To enter:

- Share this JustGiving page with friends, colleagues, or family members who may want to form a team. Each person must sign up individually and create their own JustGiving fundraising page

- Assign a team leader to create the team and link everyone's fundraising pages together

- Every team member must fundraise for the same cause

- Every team member must reach the minimum £100 target

Thank you

Every supporter fuels discoveries, accelerates treatments, and builds hope. Thank you for standing with us, for building a healthier, fairer future, and for proving that together we can say:

Challenge Accepted.

Professor Petra Hamerlik leads pioneering brain tumour research at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, driving breakthroughs that donations like yours help turn into better treatments.