(1 Jan to 6 Nov 2010)
and the
International Brain Tumour Awareness Week
(31 Oct to 6 Nov 2010)
Greater Collaboration Greater Knowledge Greater Hope
Please let us know the details of your event/s as soon as possible so we can include them on this webpage and help you spread the word about them. We want to make the 2010 Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours and the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week the best yet!
Organisations wishing to be listed as supporters of the IBTA's 2009 World Walk (1 January 2010 - 6 November 2010) and the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week (31 October 2010 - 6 November 2010) should contact chair@theibta.org or kathy@theibta.org
Please note: for your organisation or group to be a "supporter" of the Week and Walk, the IBTA requires no financial commitment or fee to be paid to us by you. All we are asking for is your enthusiasm in supporting and promoting these events and for allowing us to add your name to our list of supporters.
Eileen Hackman, a Radiotherapy/Rare Tumours Research Nurse at The Christie Hospital (Manchester, UK), wrote to the IBTA about a special Brain Tumour Awareness Day held at The Christie on 4th November. She said: "The aim of the day was to increase awareness about brain tumours, and provide support. A radio advert was sent out on Galaxy radio on the 3rd of November. It highlighted potential symptoms and provided support contacts including The Christie. Posters and leaflets were sent out to network hospitals and charity groups. The details were also uploaded onto The Christie intranet and events diary. An information stand was set up on 4th November in the main glass corridor of the hospital. The topics of discussion were symptoms, treatments, trials and rehabilitation. Support material was provided from Macmillan Cancer Support, the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA), the social work department and the CNS/radiotherapy team. As well as posters, tee-shirts, hats and badges were also used to promote the day. Patients, relatives and staff also had the opportunity to discuss the above topics with the relevant staff. The day generated lots of interest from patients, relatives and health care professionals. It provided a foundation to build upon and increase knowledge and support for future events.
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Sarah Allsopp, Kate Charlton and Anna Guttridge (UK) report that they did a sponsored walk this year and raised nearly 2500 GBP for Brain Tumour UK. After learning that her step father had an inoperable brain tumour Anna was talking to Kate over a pint at The Crown Pub in Catton. The idea was born to do a fundraising hike across the North Pennines for the charity. Kate got in touch with her friend Sarah from Derbyshire, whose mother had passed away the previous month from a brain tumour, and Sarah was instantly enlisted. Sarah writes: "We walked 80 miles over six days covering part of the Pennine Way in North England...The three of us covered the North Pennines from Tan Hill Inn, Skelmerdale, North Yorkshire to The Crown Pub at Catton, Northumberland..." Sarah, Kate and Anna started their challenge on Tuesday 27th July and covered between ten and 15 miles per day. They carried all their own gear with no backup car and stayed in bed & breakfasts and youth hostels along the way. Here is a photo of the trio peering through the mist:
Ugnius Smalskys writes that the Lithuanian "Kartu lengviau" community has held activities which contributed to the 4th International Brain Tumour Awareness Week organized by IBTA.
 Ugnius and his wife Justina at the awareness evening. |
 Dr Satkauskas among the audience. |
Peggy Flannigan has sent these photos from the annual Mark Linder Walk 4 The Mind. The group photo is of survivors who participated in the walk and the small girl is Josey, their youngest survivor participant.
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Paul Hunt and close friend Chris Piggin walked the length of Hadrian's Wall in the United Kingdom in May to raise funds for Brain Tumour UK. Tragically, Paul lost his father to a brain tumour in 2006 and wanted to help raise funds and awareness of the disease. Paul and Chris also kindly donated 168 miles from their Hadrian's Wall challenge to the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours, as well as raising 1,500 GBP for Brain Tumour UK.
 The remains of a Roman milecastle which were at 1 mile intervals all along the length of the wall and were used as look out posts nearly 2,000 years ago when the wall was in use. |
 L-R Paul,
Chris.
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Sue Steinmetz, Study Coordinator, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, reports: “We had a small town close to us called Hagar City that held a benefit walk on 5-8-10 called Gotta Believe and they donated their miles to be part of our donation to the World Walk. They had 270 walkers for a total of 945 miles. We have another smaller walk that is part of our own but held in a small rural community of Spencer Iowa. They had 56 walkers and total miles from that walk was 196 miles. Brains Together For a Cure held our big walk on Saturday October 9th. We had 488 people in attendance for a total of 1464 miles walked. Combination of all miles from this email is 2605 miles to be donated to the World Walk target. Brains Together For a Cure had its biggest year this year as far as amount raised. We raised about $92,031.00. Last year we funded a grant at Mayo Clinic. We plan to do the same this year.” Here is a photo of their Walk.
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On Sunday 10th November, just after lunch, 11 members of the Worcestershire Brain Tumour Support Group (and one dog) set out on their annual walk to raise awareness for the Internation Brain Tumour Alliance. As in previous years the walk started and finished at the Woodlands Countryside Centre in the middle of Worcester. Brian Mayo, a local rambler set out the route so that it would be both interesting and varied. There were various options for the fitter and not so fit members of the Group and again as in previous years the weather was very kind to us. It took about 2 hours to cover the four mile walk which took us through estates, fields, the local hospital, past Tesco and back for a well earned cup of tea at the Orchard Cafe. Everyone had a great time and raised 44 miles to add to IBTA's collection.
The new born group “Brain Tumour Barcelona” organized their first event for “Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours” on November 14 . This group has been started recently by Elisabeth Ros, a medulloblastoma survivor, with the collaboration of Fondo Alicia Pueyo (a fund for research on childhood brainstem gliomas). Elisabeth’s goal is to promote a support group in Barcelona for brain tumour patients, a great idea considering that it would be the first one, not only in the city but also in Spain. Despite of the youth of this group, more 26 people joined Elisabeth and her family for Brain Tumour Barcelona, running in the “Race for Life”, a charity sport event which takes place in Barcelona for the last six years. As the distance of the race was 5 km, a total of 130 km were added to “Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours” The group also sold bracelets to raise money for brain tumour research. The funds raised will go to brain tumour research in Barcelona. Here is a photo of the group:
Over 12,000 participants united in the fight against brain tumors in cities across the United States for the National Brain Tumor Society’s seven fall events. Decked out in team T-shirts, hats, and the occasional costume, the spirited walkers contributed an incredible 61,650 km to the IBTA Walk Around the World for Brain Tumors. The inaugural Boston Brain Tumor Walk raised more than $400,000, while the crowds in Huntington Beach raised a record-breaking $245,000, contributing to the 2010 event fundraising total of more than $6 million. Proceeds from these events benefit the National Brain Tumor Society, bringing together the best of research and patient services. Here is a photo of the Boston walkers:
The Brain Tumour Foundation of India (BTF www.braintumourindia.com) is a dedicated charity committed to the welfare of people with brain tumours and their families with dedicated programmes towards treatment, rehabilitation and research. Rakesh Jalali reports that as part of the Annual “International Brain Tumour Awareness week”, BTF organised its ANNUAL DAY at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai on 31st October, 2010. The function was graced by hundreds of patients and their families from all over the country. An art festival of drawings and paintings was held, where patients displayed their talents and feelings as an expression of art. This was followed by an inspiring Cultural programme and Fancy Dress Display by our children (photographs). The performances were very well received as well as evoking tremendous appreciation and emotion in the audience. The chief guests of the function, Saleem Merchant (who very graciously performed as well for our children) and Ashoke Pandit, noted film personalities interacted with our participants and were generous in their support and appreciation. Greeting card and donations collected from the sale of some of the selected art work from the function are being dedicated to the welfare of needy patients. All children and families were given gifts as a token of bravery in their fight against this disease.
The function was well covered by print media. Finally, on behalf of all of us at the BTF, we would like to extend our gratitude to the IBTA for taking up this important cause. BTF also pledges solidarity and support to everyone throughout the world towards spreading the awareness message and wish great success.
Two photos appear below.
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