We know that small is beautiful. We know that, despite being small, brainstrust has had a significant impact on the world of brain cancer and we know that we have saved lives. So this is to say a huge thank you from a small charity. Because you are one of our first supporters and without your efforts, your support and your energy, we would not have reached this point on our journey. Thank you for making brainstrust a success!
And what a journey it has been. During our first two and a half years our ethos and vision have become firmly established. We have always known what we want to achieve and how we could achieve it. But as we have grown (much faster than we expected!) we have become much sharper about our outcomes, so that we can impact on the widest number of brain cancer sufferers possible.
We are keeping it personal
brainstrust is a beacon
of hope for brain tumour
patients and their families,
providing support 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week
Despite its rapid development, brainstrust is determined to keep its very personal identity. Being able to answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is very important to us – and to the 100 families, which we are currently supporting. Being a beacon of hope on the journey is critical to our raison d’être, but so is being honest about the options available to brain cancer patients. So far 3 patients have sought treatment abroad with the support of brainstrust, all of whom are now planning happy futures following successful surgery.
You have helped us achieve so much
There are our collaborations with the University of Portsmouth and the National Hospital Development Foundation. Here our support is focused on practical, clinical outcomes, which will have an immediate impact on someone diagnosed with a brain tumour.
So many of you have achieved too on our behalf, by participating in a multitude of fun and exciting events, from coffee mornings to our fantastic May Ball at Highclere Castle, to the 112 brave legs that ran for brainstrust in the first Royal Parks Half Marathon!
A giant THANK YOU to everyone who has organised an event or taken part in our first two and a half years. All your efforts have helped us raise an incredible £300,000 so far! But this is just a beginning.
We are here, and we have answers
Every patient who comes to
brainstrust receives a free support
package that enables them to:
- ask the right questions,
- see the right people,
and
- find the right treatment.
Often with truly amazing results!
brainstrust provides the free support package which each patient receives the moment they make contact with us. At the point at which they are lost, we point them in the right direction so that they can face the journey ahead with less fear and with more courage.
Patients arrive at brainstrust at different stages in their journey. Many have only just received the diagnosis and others have already had some treatment. But all of them are struggling to find their way and want to do everything they can, so they don’t have to live with ‘if only’.
Ken is one such person. Mandie, his wife, contacted us in despair as the family felt they had reached the end of the road. Ken had been told his brain tumour was inoperable. Mandie was fighting hard to save her husband – she had a lot to fight for with two young sons to look after. brainstrust immediately arranged a second opinion for Ken, who was able to travel to London. Not only were they told that neurosurgery was possible, but after the surgery they received some brilliant news:
“Now for the best, unbelievable, mind-blowing news…
They have told us that as far as they can see on Ken's latest MRI scan, they think
that they have successfully removed all of the tumour!
… We will never, ever, be able to express our gratitude to brainstrust”
Mandie, October 2008
You have helped us to create hope
We have created hope where none has existed and that makes us proud. We know that safer ways to remove brain tumours already exist and we believe that a cure for brain tumours, or at the very least, the ability to control brain cancer, is not far away now.
Every day we hear about some new technology or research and that assures us that a significant sea change in the treatment of brain tumours is underway.
brainstrust’s journey isn’t over yet – we have so much more to achieve. The good thing is we know where we are going next. We have big plans for 2009, so please stay in touch.
We love our supporters – thank you!
Helen and Meg x
P.S. You’re one of our first supporters so we really hope you’ll stay in touch!
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