Charity of the Year 2019 is announced

The Brain Tumour Charity is to be Ashwood’s Charity of the Year 2019. 102,000 people in the UK are living with a brain tumour. The survival rate of only 14% is one of the poorest of all cancers and brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children. Lack of funding for research means that treatment has remained largely unchanged in 40 years, a shocking statistic. The Brain Tumour Charity aims to change all this and has now become the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. They have committed over £41.2 million to date on pioneering projects that will help adults and children with brain tumours.

Research

Research strategy: ‘A Cure Can’t Wait’

Their research strategy, A Cure Can’t Wait, outlines their priorities over the next five years:

• Accelerating understanding of tumour biology
• Diagnosing brain tumours earlier and more accurately
• Catalysing the development of more effective and safer treatments
• Enhancing care and quality of life for everyone affected by a brain tumour

Support

The charity has an Information and Support Line, Facebook Support Groups and live chat. These offer a way to ask questions or raise concerns about a diagnosis, treatments, including access to clinical trials, how a brain tumour may affect daily life and how to support a loved one.

Family Days give families some respite

A Children and Families Service as well as a Young Adults Service offer help, understanding and support following a brain tumour diagnosis. Local Support Groups affiliated to the charity give an opportunity to share experiences and meet others that are facing similar challenges. In many cases, health and social care professionals from the local area also attend the groups to provide expert information. In the West Midlands, there are support groups in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Walsall. The charity organises Family Days across the UK, giving families affected by a brain tumour the chance to spend time together away from hospital, meet other families and enjoy a day out.

Fund-raising

Raising funds and awareness

The charity’s community fundraising team are there to guide, support and encourage fundraisers. There are over 300 Supporter Groups across the UK, with one thing in common: they want to raise funds and awareness to change the outcomes for those affected by brain tumours both now and in the future.

Campaigning

Identifying the issues that affect patients and their families most is a crucial part of the charity’s campaigning activities; these include accurate and early diagnosis, asking for better access to clinical trials and a clear and simpler benefits system.

Why did Ashwood choose this charity?

Nursery owner John Massey says: “I’ve been considerably moved by the experiences of people affected by brain tumours. A very dear nurseryman friend of mine died last year from a brain tumour and a former member of staff has just undergone radiotherapy and now chemotherapy for her tumour. I’m also aware that brain tumours affect both children and young adults, and realise how devastating this is for their families.  I want our fundraising this year to support The Brain Tumour Charity in all aspects of its work, but most especially research and support for patients. I’m so impressed with their resolve to double survival rates by 2025 and halve the harm that brain tumours have on the quality of life by 2020. I’m sure that, with the help of all our wonderful customers, the money we raise on 2019 can help The Brain Tumour Charity achieve their goal.”

How will Ashwood Nurseries raise money?

Our main fundraising comes from John’s Garden Open Days and Hellebore Tours . We also are fortunate to receive a number of individual private donations from our generous customers and friends and we would like to say a big thank you to anyone who supports our charity in any way, no matter how small. The Brain Tumour Charity is a registered charity no.1150054  (England & Wales). 

Learn more…

Visit www.thebraintumourcharity.org to learn more about the charity’s work.

Past  Ashwood Charity of the Year fund-raising:

2019: National Garden Scheme: £3,831.00

2018: WINGS of Wombourne, Staffordshire: £21,140.00

2018: National Garden Scheme: £4.045.00

2017: Beacon Centre for the Blind: £24,859.16

2017: National Garden Scheme: £4194.06

2017: Kinver National Trust: £1227.50

2016: High Flyers of Wombourne, Staffordshire: £24,318.92

2016: National Garden Scheme: £4,194.06

2015: Macmillan Cancer Support: £21,810.00

2015: National Garden Scheme: £2,135.00

2014: Stroke Support, West Midlands: £15,400.00

2014: National Garden Scheme: £1,870.00

2013: Cancer Support at The White House, Dudley, West Midlands: £23,764.73

2013: National Garden Scheme: £350

2012: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: £19,600

2012: National Garden Scheme: £1372.50

2011: Alzheimers Society: £26,030.60

2011: National Garden Scheme: £1940.00

2010: Mary Stevens Hospice and Compton Hospice, West Midlands: £23,942

2010: National Garden Scheme: £2,224.00

2009: Action Heart, Russell Hall Hospital, West Midlands: £26,341.00