A group of dedicated campaigners have handed over a petition with more than 80,000 signatures to Downing Street calling for increased Government funding into brain tumour research.
Our Patrons, Theo Burrell and Danny Clarke, along with ambassador, Sam Suriakumar, and campaigner, Nicola Nuttall, joined CEO Dan Knowles on the steps of Number 10 yesterday (Wednesday 31st January) to deliver our petition demanding that the Government recognises brain tumour research as a critical priority.
It calls for research investment into this devastating disease, which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, to be brought in line with the spend on breast, bowel, and lung cancer, as well as leukaemia.
Dan said: “We are calling on the Government to ring-fence £110 million of current and new funding to kick-start an increase in the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million a year by 2028.
News of the petition hand-in met with widespread media coverage, helping to raise further vital awareness on likes of the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, MailOnline and Independent.
Theo and Nicola spoke passionately on BBC Breakfast about their reasons for supporting this cause, where Theo told presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay: “We need more investment, we need more funding, and we need to save current and future lives.
“We need to have hope. There’s a real momentum behind Brain Tumour Research, behind what they’re doing, and behind getting more funding. Today is really important; we’re handing in this petition and the work continues. People like Nicola, people like myself, we’re continuing to fight for the rest of the community.
“There’s lots to be done. Together we can make a difference.”
Our campaigners understand all too well the devastation that brain tumours inflict on families. Antiques Roadshow expert Theo is living with a glioblastoma (GBM). Danny lost his sister Margot to the same type of brain tumour. And Nicola’s daughter, Laura, was also lost to a GBM at the age of 23. Sam, a father-of-two, is currently having treatment for a glioma which was diagnosed during lockdown.
Dan added: “In the last 20 years, research spend in the UK on breast cancer has been six times more than brain tumours. Leukaemia has received four times more funding. Since the 1970s, 10-year survival rates for breast cancer have doubled and, in the case of leukaemia, increased six-fold since the 1970s. UK universities deliver world-class research and are poised to make further breakthroughs. Now is the time for the Government to invest in our globally-leading research institutions in order to deliver cures.”
Together with the 81,336 of you who signed the petition, we will ensure that our voices are heard in the fight to work towards our vision to find a cure for all types of brain tumours.
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