Mark Whitehouse is organising a charity weekend including a sponsored canal walk, called ‘From the Waggon to the Wharf’, to take place on Sunday, May 24. The walk will see regular pub customers, walking from the Waggon and Horses pub, Tipton, to the Wharf in Walsall and back again.
Sunday afternoon and Monday will see live entertainment, BBQ, facepainting, raffle, and an auction to raise vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity
The idea came about because of previous, smaller fundraising events at the pub which has raised over £2,000 so far this year for The Charity, the largest global funder of research into the disease. It also offers support to all those affected by a diagnosis and campaigns for systemic change to healthcare policy.
Mark said: “In 2023, at the age of 26 my son Jack was diagnosed with not one but two large Brain Tumours. He'd had some trouble with his eyesight for a few days and went to the optician for an eye test. From there he was sent straight to hospital and didn't come home for over two months.
“Jack's diagnosis was devastating for us as a family and affects us all daily. He has had brain surgery to remove as much from the frontal tumour as possible but some of the tumour remains inoperable. The surgery has affected him greatly and along with radio and chemotherapy he faces many challenges daily, all of which he overcomes with a bravery that makes me very proud and humble.
“Jack is a trouper and a legend.”
- To find out more about The Brain Tumour Charity’s work visit: www.thebraintumourcharity.org
About The Brain Tumour Charity
Every day in the UK, 34 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour, yet changes in survival rates have barely improved in 40 years compared with other cancers, investment in research is low and diagnosis is still taking much too long.
The Brain Tumour Charity funds an extensive, diverse portfolio of research across the UK and internationally to improve understanding of the complexities of brain tumours, find better diagnostic techniques and identify new treatments.
It also offers comprehensive support and information services including a support and information helpline, Information Standard accredited fact sheets, online peer-to-peer support and dedicated Children and Families, and Young Person’s Service.
The Charity is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, The Information Standard, The Helplines Partnership and the Fundraising Standards Board - Registered Charity in England and Wales (1150054) and Scotland (SC045081)
About brain tumours
- Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s
- Around 5,300 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year
- Brain tumours reduce life expectancy by 27 years on average – the highest of any cancer
- Only 12% of adults live for five years post-diagnosis
- Just 3.2% of the £700 million plus invested in UK cancer research funding in 2019/20* was spent on brain tumours. (This includes £6.6m (approx. 1%) of funding by The Brain Tumour Charity)
Sources: Cancer research funding data (2022) Available at: https://www.ncri.org.uk/how-we-work/cancer-research-database/funding-data (Accessed: 23 May 2023).
Spend by Research & Disease Site (2021) UK National Cancer Research Institute’s Cancer Research Database. Available at: https://www.ncri.org.uk/how-we-work/cancer-research-database/spend-by-research-category-and-disease-site/
*Pre pandemic figures have been used as the amount of research funding dropped in 2020/2021 because of the circumstances.