Rachel was diagnosed with a grade II astrocytoma in 2021. Rachel had an awake brain surgery in December 2021 and fortunately she has recovered well. However there is no cure for this type of cancer at the moment, so when Rachel’s tumour recurs, she will have very limited treatment options.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other type of cancer, but research in this area is very poorly funded: brain tumour research still represents just 1% of the national spend on cancer.

We are fundraising for a charity that is focusing on brain tumour clinical research; the National Brain Appeal. We know that their fundraising makes a difference - they established the UK’s first dedicated Brain Tumour Unit and the first dedicated ward for brain tumour patients, the Molly Lane Fox Unit, where Rachel had her brain surgery. They also funded the UK’s first interventional MRI scanner. Without this type of scanner, Rachel would not have had access to the type of operation that she had.

We have agreed with the charity that any funds raised will be ringfenced for clinical trials being carried out by Dr Paul Mulholland, an oncologist at UCLH, to explore the effectiveness of immunotherapy as a treatment for glioblastomas. He recently completed the most significant clinical trial for brain cancer in decades and he is fundraising to carry out further trials. We want to contribute to that effort. Thank you for your support!

The tournament:

- The netball tournament is on Saturday 20 January at 09.30am, for 09.45am kick-off, at Kennington Park netball courts. All standards are welcome. After the tournament we'll head for a drink at the White Bear, Kennington at 1.30pm. If you can't make it please still donate

- To play netball: message Elie McDaniell to join a team 07734683676

Donating:

-Playing tickets: join a mixed squad that plays x5 12 min games over 2 hours. £25 per person

-General donation support: this too is welcome!

Hit the 'Give now' button and in your message let us know if you're a player or a general supporter so we can prepare.

What they said

Team captains

The Brain - Kate KP genius Pooler: Adam Taylor, Ella Cameron, Mike Gale, Sara Worth, Katie Rose, Eleanor Brown, E Davison

Mind over matter - Becca Bland: Jonny McD, Jamie Robson, Libby Rust, Genny Capper, Will Graham

Hockey Lads - Sarah DK-GK Dawkins: Ross Watkins, Alex Woolf, Libby O, Whizzy, Carina Linberg, Hettie George

Rim Dogs - Chris Chunks Clasper: Charles Millar, Hannah Patel, Annie Bond, Sean Brassill, Will Gilbert, Tom Pope, Mimi Jeanne, Harry, Matt Clark, Ed Freeman

Ballsackers - Lucy the veysotron Veys: Helly R, Jamie Burke, Kati Read, Chris Bellamy, Jamie Salter, Abi, Sophia