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Warmest congratulations to all our supporters on achieving the target total for the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours - and more! Our target was 120,000 km (or three times around the world at the Equator) Mileage reported so far is 215,883 kms! And the mileage is still coming in... The next World Walk starts 1 January  2009. Please visit our website periodically for updates on this and the 2009 International Brain Tumour  Awareness Week.

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2008 Completed Events (Part 2)

Almost 100 delegates from throughout Scotland converged on the Beatson Centre for Cancer Research in Glasgow on the 31st October for a one-day meeting titled ‘Diagnosis and Management of Brain Tumours in the 21st Century’ organised by the West of Scotland Neuro-oncology Group on behalf of the Scottish Adult Neuro-oncology Network (SANON) to mark International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. Following the meeting the inaugural SANON Trophy was contested in a 5-a-side football tournament between teams representing Neuro-oncology centres in Scotland. On this occasion a team from the Institute of Neurological sciences in Glasgow were victorious. However, the teams form Edinburgh Neuro-oncology and form the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow vowed to come back next year and win the trophy. A more complete report of the meeting by consultant neuropathologist Willie Stewart is available here.

Hidemichi Tomioka, Chair of the Japanese Brain Tumour Alliance, advises that thirty-five patients and medical staff attended a meeting for the Awareness Week at Kurume, Kyushu district, Japan, including brain tumour patients, families, nurses and a neurosurgeon. Subjects discussed included the classification of brain tumours and patients’ concerns. Twenty people walked a total of 406 kms to contribute to the World Walk target.

Kiki Connor reports that a walk in support of Brain Tumour UK was held on 1 November starting and finishing at the Full Moon, Cholesbury, near Chesham, Bucks (UK). There were 55 walkers, including at least three brain tumour patients. The combined mileage contributed to the World Walk was 120 miles. Conditions were cold, wet, and muddy, but it was a lovely country walk over fields and in woods, in an  area of outstanding natural beauty - The Chiltern Hills. The organisers expect to raise over 2000 GBP but a number of sponsorship forms are still to come in.

The Brain Tumor Society (BTS) and the National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF) have merged to create the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) in the USA. Andrina Schwartz of the NBTS has advised the following contributions to the World Walk target from events held earlier under the separate banners: From what was formerly the National Brain Tumor Foundation: Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure: All are 5K (3.1 mile) Walks - Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure, Portland, Oregon: 485 participants; Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure, San Diego, California: 355 participants; Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure, Phoenix, Arizona: 471 participants; Brain Tumor Walk and Angel Adventure, Orange County, California: 491 participants. From what was formerly the Brain Tumor Society: Race for Hope Philadelphia: 4940 people participated in a 3.1 mile race; Race for Hope DC: 6900 people participated in a 3.1 mile race.

Ilhan Elmaci of the newly-formed Turkish Brain Tumor Association advises that they held a meeting of 20 brain tumour patients and families on 29 October as part of the Awareness Week. Congratulations to Ilhan and this new group.

Pepi Soto i Mora, Coordinadora del departament de Psicooncologia and aecc-Catalunya contra el Cancer, advises that they organised a round table for brain tumour patients and their caregivers in Girona, Spain, on 27 October during the Awareness Week.

Sue Steinmetz, Study Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center (USA) reports that 552 walkers as part of their Brains Together for a Cure completed a 5 Kms walk on 25 October for a total of 2,760 km or 1,715 miles for the World Walk target. Funds raised will go towards brain tumor research at the Mayo Clinic.

Michel Esnault, Chairman of GFME, reports that the walk around the world against the cerebral tumors united 60 participants in La Tremblade, next to Royan, department of Charentes Maritimes, France. The walk was for four kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean on the sand near the lighthouse of La Coubre and then on a trail near pines. Funds donated will be given to the ARTC, Association for Research on the Cerebral Tumors. The walkers were pleased with the international mobilization against the illness through the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours. Some very fine photos of the walk may be viewed at the GFME website: http://gfme.free.fr/marche/latremblade2008.html

Dr Rakesh Jalali from the Brain Tumour Foundation of India reports: “The Brain Tumour Foundation of India (BTF; www.braintumourindia.com ) is one of the founding members of the IBTA (www.theibta.org) and supporting the cause wholeheartedly. BTF has for the last 7 years done enormous work towards the treatment, rehabilitation and supporting thousands of patients with brain tumours and their families, from all over India. As a part of the “International Brain Tumour Awareness week”, BTF organised its ANNUAL ART FESTIVAL at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai on 2^nd November, 2008. This was attended by hundreds of patients, survivors and their families from all over the country, who displayed their talents and emotions on canvas by drawings, paintings and overall revelling in each other’s fraternity and joy. Greeting card and donations collected from the sale of some of the selected art works will be dedicated to the welfare of people with CNS tumours and their families.  

One of the highlights of the functions was the brilliant cultural programme and fancy dress competition performed by children with CNS tumours. The performances were very inspiring and brought thunderous applauses as well as an occasional tear from the audience. The chief guests of the function, Kitu Gidwani and Rajan Khosa, noted film personalities, spent a lot of time at the function and were very generous in their support and appreciation.

All children and families were given a CERTIFICATE OF BRAVERY and gifts as a token of appreciation in their fight against this disease.

The function was well covered by print media. Already, a lot of inquiries and interest has been generated and I have been inundated with calls for the last few days regarding various aspects of these tumours.

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.”

Kylie Wright CNC Neurosurgery & Teresa Simpson Senior Social Worker (Brain Tumour Support Group Co-ordinators) report that in celebration of International Brain Tumour Awareness Week 26th October to 1st November, 2008 the Sydney South West Area Health Service Liverpool Hospital Brain Tumour Support and Education Group participated in a walk and outing on Tuesday 14^th October, 2008.  A group of 17 patients and carers travelled to the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk in the very beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia and participated in a very eventful day.

The group undertook a one-hour walk through the rainforest treetops, 25 metres above the ground. The Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk is set atop the escarpment of Knight’s Hill, and allowed us to see the edge of the forest fall line and inspiring views over the valley to Lake Illawarra and the South Pacific Ocean. Some of the group members also climbed the 45 metre spiralling staircase to the crest of a viewing tower to experience the spectacular panoramic scenery.  This unique experience captured the beauty of the native flora and fauna of the Southern Highlands which was a picturesque setting for this memorable walk to raise awareness of the challenges of brain tumours.

As part of the day the group also enjoyed morning tea and lunch at the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk Café and enjoyed a visit to the very famous Robertson Pie Shop and the Old Robertson Cheese Factory. The celebration was kindly supported by the John Richard Kuhlman Foundation.

Shanne McNamara reports that their walk started at the Edinburgh (UK) Castle Esplanade with Edinburgh Tour Guide Bill Hill www.edinburghtourguide.co.uk  for a walk along the Royal mile. “There were 19 of us in total including two in pushchairs, namely wee Costin Anthony and Finn. Young Hailey, aged 4, took a shine to Bill and hung on his every word, especially for the Grey Friars Bobby story (which was so embellished it brought a tear to the eyes of many a passer by). Two other children were also in the party, Rhys and Zoe, they enjoyed the 'spooky' stories associated with Old Edinburgh. The Royal Mile is actually more than a mile by 107 yards, so we could just about register 20 miles for the Walk Around the World For Brain Tumours. At the end of the walk refreshments were provided by the General Manager of the Apex International Hotel in the Grassmarket which was a great ending to a very enjoyable afternoon.”

Dr Andrea Pace reports that the second Corri al Massimo per Irene was a great success.
On Sunday November 2, in Villa Pamphili in Rome, more than 700 people participated in the 5 kms walk for brain tumors. The cumulative distance reached was 3000 km. More than 14000 euros was collected for IRENE Onlus activities. A message of good wishes from theIBTA was read to the participants.

Tina Mitchell, Founder and Chief Executive of the South Gloucestershire UK-based charity Hammer Out advised that supporters did two walks in 2008, the mileage from which will be donated to the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours. The first walk - organised by Emma Fordyce and her mother Carol Garbett, took place along the beach from Brean Down to Burnham-on-Sea, a distance of about 10 miles.  It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and 55 walkers participating.  Over 1,000 was raised for Hammer Out and approximately 550 miles were achieved. The second walk involved a group of Hammer Out supporters lead by Ben Foxall and Mike Clarke.  The group did two long walks in the English Lake District during a weekend of mixed weather and raised over 1,225. Our thanks to Hammer Out for their much appreciated promotion of the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week and the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours in their Autumn newsletter.

Awareness week in Lithuania: www.kartulengviau.lt from Lithuania supported the International Awereness Week 2008 by organising a mini-conference for doctors, nurses, patients and their carers. There were two short presentations: a neurosurgeon Dr A. Šitkauskas (working in Vilnius) discussed the present situation in Lithuania (to be more exact in the area of Vilnius), and the head of a public institution and the founder of www.kartulengviau.lt Ingrida Blažytė- Byčiuvienė talked from the perspective of a patient as she is a patient herself (GBM). Then followed a round table discussion about some general local BT patients’ problems (like queues waiting for radiotherapy after surgery, why?, lack of TMZ, etc.). We have also discussed some good points that have been achieved (a website, very active support groups, TMZ together with radiotherapy soon will be available in three major centers in Lithuania though we are a very small country with 3 mln. people only). There are other benefits as well. Some future plans were discussed too.