The 2011 International Brain Tumour Awareness Week has now finished and we will soon be uploading reports and photographs of some of the various activities held around the world in conjunction with this commemorative period as well as reports and photos of the 2011 Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours

Colombia: Dr Gabriel Vargas wrote that they held a brain tumour symposium at Bucaramanga, Colombia, on 5 November attended by 130 people, including patients, families, students and medical specialists. It was organised by Capitulo de Neurooncologia y Base de Carneo Asociacion Colombiana de Neurocirugia, with the support of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universidad Autonomoa de Bucaramanga (Unab), Clinica Carlos Ardila Lulle (FOSCAL). Here are some photos:

Lousie Baker from Hull (UK) informed us that her workplace was to hold a neuro-oncology study day on 4 November as part of the Awareness Week.

Peter Bordignon from the Joe Di Pama Brain Tumor Foundation in Toronto (Canada) advised that the Foundation held a "Carnival in Venice" on 4 November, with the funds raised going to support the Pencer Brain Tumor Centre at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Maureen Daniels from the Pencer Brain Tumour Centre emailed us to say that they completed their annual Head for a Cure 2011 5Kms walk on 16 October. 167 walkers completed 5 kms, making a contribution of 835 kms to the World Walk total.

Bob Clarke from Bradford (UK) is walking from Bradford to Rome (Italy). See: " I am making the epic journey, walking from Bradford (Yorkshire, UK) to Rome (Italy) in the footsteps of the Roman Legionaire...starting new Spring and aiming to land around 3 months later. Whilst walking I will be camping, staying at hostels...and who knows what...and hopefully raising money for Andrea's gift in memory of my Grandson, Callum. I want you to follow my journey." He has a Facebook page here. Here is a photo of Bob the walker:

Postscript: Bob's daughter Ali reports that he had to stop because of non-walk related health issues: "He has covered over 600 miles and managed to get just over 100 miles south-east of Calais ... The total raised to date is £1855.00….he is hoping to pick up where he left off next year (hoping the Euro is improved too!)".,

A walk was held on 13 November organised by Naseem's Manx Brain Tumour Charity. The charity was named after Naseen Pishvaie who died from a brain tumour and seeks to support other people suffering from a brain tumour, and also contributes to research. Manx is on the Isle of Man in the UK. Walk organiser Gerry wrote on their website: " It was very muddy, but we got there in the end, also to those who actually carried on to Peel, "well done guys" all the mileage achieved today will go towards the International Brain Tumour's Association "Walk Around the World" and what a day to hold it, Rememberance Day! Lots of Love, Gerry." Here is a photo of the 50 walkers (including the obligatory dog - we are hoping to assemble a photo collage for the IBTA magazine of all the dogs who have been conscripted as walkers in the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours but the mileage they cover will have to be divided by two!):

Lanette Veres from the (US) Gray Matters Foundation wrote that she planned to have a Gray Matters table at the Rare Affair Beer for Brains activity in Scottsdale on 5 November. Here is a photo of Lanette who is a brain tumor survivor and established the group in 2007:

Sue Farrington-Smith of Brain Tumour Research (UK) advised that the group held its annual members' workshop during 30 October - 1 November in support of International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. Here is a photo of the group:

Michel Esnault, Chairman of GFME, reported that the 5th annual walk on the Atlantic coast was held on 5 November with 98 walkers participating in the 7 kms walk. The group produced a nice poster before the walk and a tribute on You Tube. Here is the poster and a still from the video:

Christine Forecast wrote that walkers in the annual Holkham Hall walk for the Astro Fund in October resulted in a contribution of 899 miles to the World Walk target and that 7,000 GBP was raised. In a media statement the group noted: "The fifth Annual Norfolk Family Walk for BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH  & SUPPORT took place on Saturday 8th October in the beautiful grounds of Holkham Hall once more. Children walking the one mile route played games as they made their way up the hill to the obelisk. Some people came long distances to join in – from Surrey, Cheshire and several from Lincolnshire. The “Norwich Girls” all walked 10 miles in memory of their great friend Gemma Barrett.  Gemma passed away in November 2010, at the age of 29, having been diagnosed with a brain tumour four years previously.  The eight girls (all Gemma’s school friends from Norwich High School) raised £2,850 in sponsorship. A team from Hartismere High School, Eye, where Gemma taught, also walked 10 miles in honour of her memory."

Here are some photos of the walkers:

Charles and Olga Grant reported that the Charity Balloon Walk, Lake Vyrnwy, was held on 4 June with 41 walkers and five dogs accumulating a total of 533 miles for the World Walk target. The walk raised 6500 GBP for the Andrew McCartney Trust Fund. Dr Andrew Peet and three fellow scientists from the University of Birmingham attended the walk. The scientists are working on a project to which the Trust Fund donated 25,000 GBP last year. A feature this year was a special bell that had belonged to Andrew. It was rung to start the race and each finisher rang it as they reached the end. Here are two photos from the walk. The balloons, which were carried during the walk, was a new feature this year.

Kortney's Challenge: A hurricane coincided with the 6th annual challenge so it was postponed to Labor Day. Kristen Gillette (Kortney's mum and Founder/President of the Kortney Rose Foundation) emailed the IBTA to say that 400 miles was contributed towards the World Walk target when the Challenge was eventually held - on a day with much better weather. Here is a very young participant who contributed to the grand total of mileage: