Newsletter
Number 44
Spring/Summer
2014
Our 30th
Anniversary
Celebrations
Treating
Tumours
Meet the
Headliners
cure cancerous tumours in the
brain, but it can often prolong
life and improve the quality of
life for patients.
Treating
tumours
With the surgeons
from the Royal
Free Hospital now
working at Queen
Square, several
hundred brain
tumour operations
are conducted
here every year.
We asked consultant
neurosurgeon, Neil Kitchen,
for the latest updates. “We now
have all the tools available that
we need,” he says. “We can use
the interventional MRI theatre,
we’ve got full image guidance,
and we can use fluorescent dye
to make some tumours glow so
that we can identify them. We’re
operating with the full battery
of equipment.”
“The gamma knife is a crucial
part of this”, he adds. Unlike
traditional surgery, gamma
knife procedures do not actually
involve the use of a ‘knife’ or
scalpel and the skull never has
to be opened up. It works by
delivering precisely targeted
radiation at a much higher
dose and minimises damage
to surrounding healthy tissue.
As well as being non-invasive,
it is routinely undertaken as an
outpatient procedure. It cannot
Leave
a lasting
legacy
of hope
Ten million people in the UK
suffer from a neurological
disorder. It can be present
from birth. It can develop
slowly or primarily affect the
elderly. It can occur through
accident or injury.
resource. It is a recognised
world leader in neurological
research and development
and in teaching.
The National Hospital for
Neurology and Neurosurgery
is the UK’s leading neurological
You can help provide hope
to so many people by leaving
a legacy, a covenant or a
donation to The National Brain
Appeal. Please call 020 3448
4724 for more information.
Contact us
The National Brain Appeal
Box 123, Queen Square
London WC1N 3BG
T 020 3448 4724
F 020 3448 3698
[email protected]
@BrainAppeal
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newsletter mailing list, please
get in touch.
© The National Brain Appeal
The National Brain Appeal is the
working name of The National
Hospital Development Foundation
Registered Charity No.290173
www.nationalbrainappeal.org
2 | The National | Spring/Summer 2014
“Since 2012, we’ve been using
this for a variety of conditions
and tumours, particularly around
the skull based abnormalities.
It’s made it possible to deliver
much more targeted radiation
with minimal damage to the
surrounding cerebral tissue.
What’s more, the gamma knife
means that patients can get
all their treatment in the same
place. That cuts down hugely
on the risk to the patient. Many
of them have known us here
for years, and it’s safer for them
if they can be treated here; it’s
quicker, and it’s more efficient.”
The team’s now looking at
different types of radiation
treatment, and different ways
of delivering it, for people
with brain tumours. “We’re
working very closely with
colleagues on new methods
of focusing radiation.
The risk of causing further
damage to the tissue is already
very low, but making it even
more accurate reduces the risk
even further.”
The National Brain Appeal
is supporting a combined
neurosurgical/neuro-oncology
research post - commencing in
early 2015 - with funds raised
by Penny Boylan and the Queen
Square Dinner.
Setting research
priorities for
tumours of the
brain or spinal cord
Have you, a relative or a friend
had experience of a brain tumour
or a spinal cord tumour? Are
there unanswered questions
that you think researchers need
to investigate?
Make your voice heard by
taking part in a groundbreaking project that launched
on 1 March to coincide with
the start of Brain Tumour
Awareness Month in the UK.
Consultant in Palliative
Medicine at UCLH, Jane
Neerkin said: “This project
will allow those affected
an opportunity to influence
the direction of future
clinical research to improve
the diagnosis, treatment
and management of these
patients and their tumours.
We are keen to hear from
people of all backgrounds and
ages, whether patients, relatives
or health professionals”
All questions will be
submitted to a panel of
experts, including patients,
and a process of prioritisation
will be undertaken in order
to arrive at a ‘Top 10’ of
what matters most to people
affected by brain or spinal
cord tumours. These priority
topics will then be promoted
to research organisations
and funders.
Submit your questions at
www.neuro-oncology.co.uk
or call 0131 537 2875 for
a paper copy of the survey.
Closing date for questions is
30 April 2014.
The new theatres project will have a major impact on delivering
safer, quicker and more effective surgical procedures. We’re
delighted to have raised over £1 million of the £3 million budget
but still need your help. Please support this appeal and make a
donation today – www.justgiving.com/Operating-Theatres-Appeal
Thank you for your support.
Times of trial
At The National
Hospital we bring
together research
and practice:
investigating the
workings of the
brain, exploring
new options for
therapies, and
then developing
these therapies in
clinical trials with
patients with
brain tumours.
“For brain tumours, we have a
very active specialist trials unit.
All patients with brain tumours
treated at the National are
considered for clinical trials”
says consultant oncologist
Dr Paul Mulholland. “We have
a dedicated clinical trials team,
including a research nurse and
data manager. We work with
industry, university colleagues
and organisations such as the
European Organisation for
Research and Treatment of
Cancer (EORTC) to safely deliver
new agent clinical trials to
patients with brain tumour”
There have been several recent
important investigations all
into glioblastoma - the most
common primary brain cancer.
The study can be downloaded
at http://bit.ly/OtTDnl
One major trial has looked into
the use of a new drug, cediranib,
for treating glioblastoma; both
on its own and in conjunction
with other drugs. “We found
that cediranib on its own
was as good as the standard
treatment, but it wasn’t better
than the standard treatment so
we went on to a second trial
using cediranib in combination
with a second drug gefitinib,”
Mulholland explains. “Now
we’re working with scientists
to identify the patients who
responded to the combination
of drugs.” It’s this kind of close
research which makes it
possible to establish exactly
what treatments may work
for which people.
And they’ve also reviewed the
whole new area of ‘genome
sequencing’, in a review for
the British Journal of Cancer
“It’s a very fast-moving field
and we wanted to look at how
it is applied to medicine and
cancer in particular – the
technology, the benefits and
also the drawbacks.
On top of this, Dr Mulholland
and his colleagues have also
been establishing some crucial
information about brain tumours
which will be very important for
future trials. “We analysed a case
of a patient with three distinct
tumours - an astrocytoma, a
glioblastoma and a gliosarcoma.
We demonstrated that the
three tumours were all derived
from a common origin but had
co-evolved with each having its
own characteristic mutations.
This work is important as it helps
us to understand the genetic
diversity of tumours and could
help us develop more effective
treatments in the future.”
Mulholland’s view is that
“the technology to date has
been very useful – it’s been
used to find key mutations in
brain tumours. It gives us a
huge amount of information.
But while we can collect the
three billion data points in each
tumour, our problem now is
understanding and knowing
how to use it. So the next step
for research is how to decode
the information!” This study
can be downloaded at
http://bit.ly/1ehQjoB
“The National Brain Appeal
is delighted with the progress
in developing new treatments
for patients with brain cancer”,
says Theresa Dauncey. “We
were able to support the
establishment of this dedicated
specialist brain tumour clinical
trials team and, with sufficient
funding, we hope to further
support the exciting and
critical work of developing
new treatments for brain
tumour patients.”
It’s our 30th
anniversary!
We were set up in 1984 –
the year that Prince Harry
and Facebook founder Mark
Zuckerberg were born, the first
Apple Mac computer went
on sale and the Space Shuttle
Discovery had its maiden voyage.
Since then, we’ve had a couple
of different names but our
core mission has remained the
same: to advance the field of
neuroscience, and improve the
understanding and treatment of
conditions that affect one in six
people, by funding projects and
research. And like most people
reaching a landmark birthday,
we’re planning to celebrate but
also to take stock of where we
are today!
In fact, the first project we
were ever able to fund is still
very much in evidence – the
Neurorehabilitation Unit
(Albany Wing). We raised £5
million for this, and ever since
it opened in 1996 it has been
helping patients to return home
equipped to deal with daily living
as independently as possible.
Following that, we’ve
been able to fund over £40
million of innovative and lifechanging projects.
That’s a huge amount – and we
really couldn’t have done this
without you. From the creation
of the UK’s first dedicated brain
tumour unit, to the Dementia
Research Centre, the Centre for
Neuromuscular Diseases and
the Advanced Neuroimaging
Suite, your commitment has
been a driving force.
Throughout this issue, you’ll
be able to see the impact of
your donations and we really
hope we can count on you to
continue to support us today
and over the coming years.
And finally…we’re setting up a
30th anniversary fund. If you can
spare £30 (or more) for us we
can promise you that we will be
putting it to good use.
30th Anniversary
Lecture
From Bach to the Swingles:
a gala concert
Thirty years on, this anniversary
lecture will explain the full impact
of our funding, and how it’s
enabled The National to keep
its crucial work going.
11 June at 7.30pm
St Luke’s Church, Battersea
London SW12
Senior clinicians will describe the
advancements that our funding
has made possible, as well as the
ways in which we’re hoping to
use it in the future. Speakers will
include Professor John Duncan,
Clinical Director of Queen Square,
consultant neurosurgeon (and
marathon runner) Neil Kitchen
and Professor Mike Hanna,
director of the Institute of
Neurology and the MRC Centre
for Neuromuscular Diseases.
We’re afraid that this has to be
an invitation-only event, because
we only have very limited space
available, but we will be filming
each talk and plan to share the
content on our website.
Award-winning classical violinist
Tasmin Little OBE and renowned
chamber choir, the Vasari Singers,
will perform a programme
ranging from Bach to the Swingle
singers alongside readings by
Joanna David and Freddie Fox
(readers subject to change).
The concert is the brainchild
(no pun intended) of David
Barttelot, a long term patient
at The National (and long time
supporter of The National
Brain Appeal) and Antony
Lewis Crosby, general manager
of the St Luke’s Music Society.
The Vasari Singers
“I wanted to spread the word
about the superb treatment
available at Queen Square”
said David “and to raise
money for such an incredible
cause in the charity’s 30th
anniversary year”.
We really hope that you’ll be
able to come and join us, and
celebrate how much we’ve
achieved together over the
past three decades.
Tickets are £25 and you can
book yours using the form
on page 7, online at www.
nationalbrainappeal.org/shop
or by phoning us on
020 3448 4724
Tasmin Little
Photo by Melanie Winning
Celebrating our
landmark year
Special events for 2014
Here’s to the next 30 years –
and to our hope that we can
continue to make huge
strides in reducing the
effects of neurological
conditions.
Turning 30:
A letter from
our Chief
Executive
I have been pondering the past
and future for The National Brain
Appeal. Our 30th anniversary
has provided the opportunity
to reflect on what has been
achieved in recent history and
the launch of the National
Hospital’s 20 year strategy sets
out challenging and exciting
objectives for the years ahead.
Parkinsons’ patients, wideawake craniotomy for epilepsy
and more advanced surgical
techniques for brain tumours.
There have been so many
developments since we
were established, many made
possible by the funding you,
our supporters, have provided.
However, the 20 year strategy
(see page 5) highlights the
need for more solutions for the
increasing number of people
with neurological conditions.
Clinical activity at The National
has increased by 70% in the
past five years. The enormous
changes in neuroradiology
including the introduction of
the Interventional MRI have
enabled the development
of deep brain stimulation for
It has been estimated that life
expectancy in the population aged
65 and over will have increased
by 24 per cent by 2020. Not
surprisingly, this will have a
major impact on the demand
for services across the health
sector and in local communities.
Ten years ago, there were no drug
treatments for MS, now there are
ten different drugs available. And
the list goes on… (see our website
for more project details).
The way these services are
delivered will need to be radically
re-thought and more funding for
research into new treatments and
education for more specialised
health workers is essential. It is
going to be an exciting time –
and it feels like we are the brink
of some incredible developments
in the field.
We are very proud of
The National Brain Appeal’s
achievements to date and we
are looking forward to being
part of the solution in the next
phase too. I hope you will join
us for the journey.
Theresa Dauncey
Chief Executive
The National Brain Appeal
Taking stock
of the last
30 years
In May, we will be publishing a review
of the past 30 years, highlighting key
developments at Queen Square as well
as facts and figures about neurological
conditions and the projects that you
have helped to fund. Here are just a
few to whet your appetite:
1. Queen Square is the
largest clinical neuroscience
provider in the UK and
assesses and treats individuals
with the most complex and
difficult disorders from across
the country
2. Each year, 600,000 people
are diagnosed with a new
neurological condition
(one per cent of the UK
population). Of these, more
than 130,000 are assessed
and treated at Queen Square
and over 10,000 neurosurgical
operations are performed
3. Legacies valued at nearly
£7 million have been left to The
National Brain Appeal since 1984.
4. Life expectancy in Britain
is increasing. This is significant
because there is a higher
prevalence of neurological
diseases with increasing age.
5. In addition to funding
major capital projects, The
National Brain Appeal holds
30 funds to support research
and treatment for a number
of neurological conditions
including epilepsy, pituitary
surgery, sub arachnoid
haemorrhage, stroke, spinal
injuries, MS, Frontotemporal
Disease and migraine.
The review will be published
in late May. If you would like a
copy please call the office on
020 3448 4724.
The National | Spring/Summer 2014 | 3
Members of our London Triathlon 2013 team after the race
2014 Challenges
Virgin Money
London Marathon
Date: Sunday 13 April
A complement of 23 amazing
runners are taking on the
London Marathon for us this
year. Come along and cheer for
them with us at Mile 25, near
Embankment Tube Station.
Take the challenge
Every year, we’re
amazed by the
patients, staff and
supporters who
turn out for our
challenge events
It’s not only the athletes
themselves, but the volunteers
who cheer them on to the finish
line. And we’ve got quite a few
challenges lined up for this year…
Foremost among them is the
Virgin London Triathlon on
2 and 3 August. Once again,
over 13,000 triathletes of all
ages and abilities will swim, cycle
and run around the iconic route.
And it really isn’t all that daunting
because you can choose your
distance, from Super Sprint up
to Olympic Plus; or you can
follow in the footsteps of
Olympians Louis Smith, Jade
Jones and Nicola Adams and
take on one leg as part of the
team relay with friends. What’s
more, previous Triathletes say, it’s
the most amazing opportunity.
“It was an incredible experience
and one that was very moving
for me personally, especially
when at the end of the day I
discovered that we had raised
over £10,000 for The National
Brain Appeal!,” recalls Simon
Mitchell. “My experience has
inspired me to complete the
whole Triathlon this year and
The acorns
take root
We’re delighted
to announce that
the ‘Small Acorns’
grants awarded to
staff at The National
for small projects
with a big potential
impact, are going
from strength
to strength.
To date, the fund has enabled
the Pain Management Team
to offer patients with chronic
neuropathic pain a choice of
different treatments. Two pieces
of equipment have made a big
difference to patients’ experiences
too; the Thera-Bike has provided
exercise opportunities for patients
suffering traumatic brain injury
who spend most of their time in
bed and the Saebo-Hospital Kit
has helped stroke patients with
upper limb impairment with
their recovery.
Another project is under way
at the moment, which aims
to improve the provision for
deaf patients at The National
– starting with a special
information film in British Sign
4 | The National | Spring/Summer 2014
we will also be back with
more teams than last year, all
in memory of my mum, Sue.”
“Running for someone you cared
so deeply for and supporting
a family that need you was
the very least I could do,” adds
Simon’s friend and team-mate
Adam Craig. “And although it
was a race, there certainly wasn’t
the feel of competition. I had
my arm round someone helping
them through their pain – which
is what the day was all about.”
For more information about
the different options from
individual to team, and sprint
to Olympic, please visit www.
nationalbrainappeal.org/
challenges or call the office
on 020 3448 4724.
Bupa 10,000
Date: Sunday 25 May
Professor Mike Hanna leads a team
of 15 runners from the Centre
for Neuromuscular Diseases
(their biggest team ever) alongside
Siobhan O’Malley, Emma
Perry and Stuart Gallagher.
Virgin London
Triathlon
Date: Weekend of 2&3 August
Compete alongside 13,000
triathletes as they swim, cycle
and run around the Royal
Victoria Docks.
BMW Berlin
Marathon
Date: Sunday 28 September
Every year 40,000 runners –
including some of the world’s
best athletes – take part in this
race starting and finishing at the
Brandenburg Gate, supported by
over a million spectators.
Nike+ Run to
the Beat
Date: 14 September
The only 10K that includes
live music, this popular event
features stages with top DJs and
acts playing motivational tunes
as you run.
Royal Parks
Foundation
Half Marathon
Date: Sunday 12 October
Run through London’s most
beautiful parks for us! Places
always go quickly so don’t
miss out on your opportunity
to take part.
Sign up today!
For more details on any of our challenge events. visit
www.nationalbrainappeal.org/challenges or call 020 3448 4724.
And don’t forget, we always need volunteers to join our
cheerleading team too!
Meet the Headliners
Language with subtitles. These
projects all demonstrate the
purpose of the fund – the
projects themselves may look
small, but the effect on patients’
lives has already been enormous.
In December 2013, the
committee awarded a new
grant too, which will fund a
project on genetic screening
for late onset Friedreich’s Ataxia,
a little-known degenerative
neurological condition.
We’re grateful to all the
individuals and grant-making
trusts who are supporting the
Small Acorns Fund already,
especially Northwood and
Pinner Liberal Synagogue, the
Peter Samuel Charitable Trust,
Roger Vere Foundation, Tony
Shellim and the Wilmcote
Charitrust. This year we’d love
to provide £30,000 of grants
so please do consider making
a donation if you can.
Phyllida Law, Stephen Mangan, Gemma Jones and Joanna David
As part of our
30th celebrations,
we can unveil a
star-studded list
of celebrities,
known as
‘Headliners’, who
have pledged to
support the charity
as it goes forward.
Joining actors Joanna David, a
trustee of the charity and patient
at The National, and Stephen
Mangan, who has supported the
charity since losing his father to
brain cancer, are many familiar
faces whose popularity will help
continue to raise our profile.
‘Headliners’ include mother
and daughter Phyllida Law and
Sophie Thompson, both familiar
faces on our TV screens and
acclaimed actress Gemma Jones.
Gemma Jones, who is a close
friend of Joanna David, said:
“I witnessed, at first hand, a
dear friend receiving wonderful
treatment and her subsequent
recovery at The National Hospital
and am very happy to be able
to call myself a ‘champion of
the charity’.”
Downton Abbey’s Lily James
who plays Lady Rose Maclare
has also agreed to support the
charity and gave a reading at the
Christmas Concert.
One of Britain’s finest pianists,
Lucy Parham, has pledged her
continued support. She said: “It
has been fantastic to collaborate
with The National Brain Appeal
for two musical concerts Beloved Clara & Odyssey of Love.
To be able to use music with its
own unique language to help
raise money for this wonderful
charity has been a real privilege.”
Other ‘Headliners’ include
Joanna David’s husband, son
and daughter, Edward, Freddie
and Emilia Fox, Charles Dance,
Martin Jarvis, Rosalind Ayres,
Dame Harriet Walter and
Simon de Deney.
up
da
te
The money you donate makes an
immediate impact at The National
Hospital. Read the latest developments
and news from Queen Square
The dementia
agenda
With dementia set to triple to
135 million people worldwide
by 2050, the government has
made £20 million available for
research into the condition,
declaring it a ‘national crisis’.
UCL has received more than
£8.5 million of this funding, to
go towards three projects: two
of which are sited at the Centre
for Ageing and Mental Health,
and one of which is at the
Institute of Neurology.
“We desperately need to find
better treatment for these
devastating diseases – and
at the same time we must
improve the care and support
for the growing numbers of
families that will be affected,”
says Nick Fox, Professor of
Clinical Neurology. Professor
Fox’s work focuses on diagnosis
and treatment for dementias,
while other projects at The
National and the Institute
of Neurology are tackling
dementia in a whole range
of ways. “Research at The
National, the Institute and
elsewhere at UCL covers the
whole spectrum from basic
science to health service
research – and research into
dementia requires investment
across this spectrum,” explains
Professor Martin Rossor,
director of the National
Institute for Health Research’s
dementia and neurodegenerative
research network.
Ground-breaking
complex care
The UK’s first dedicated
inpatient centre for patients
with complex neuromuscular
disorders will open soon at
The National. The new six-bed
Centre will combine worldleading specialists with a top
quality care team, as well as
a 24-hour advice line and
psychological support for
patients and carers.
Over the past few decades,
the number of patients with
conditions like Duchenne
muscular dystrophy has
increased dramatically as
specialised paediatric care
improves, explains consultant
Dr Ros Quinlivan. “Previously,
many of the young people we
are now seeing in our clinic
would not have been expected
to survive into adult life. This is
a new and growing population
of patients with highly complex
care requirements.” Those
requirements include profound
muscle weakness, as well as
multiple organ dysfunctions
which can affect the heart,
lungs and gastrointestinal
systems; and as a result many
people have had to visit several
different hospitals and centres
up till now.
Bringing together all the
necessary care into one
specialised centre will not just
make patients’ lives easier –
it may well extend them too.
In Denmark, where care is
centralised in this way, people
with Duchenne muscular
dystrophy frequently live into
their 40s, whereas in the UK
it is still unusual to survive past
the late 20s.
The complex care unit
From Nobel to
The National
Nobel prize-winner Professor
James Rothman of Yale
University and James Jepson
from Thomas Jefferson
University are both establishing
laboratories at the Institute
of Neurology, as part of a
major initiative investigating
the basis of neuropsychiatric
diseases. “This is a major
new development that
will complement major
programmes that we are
already undertaking, and lead
to better understanding and
ultimately treatments for
patients with neurological and
neuropsychiatric diseases,”
explains Institute Director
Professor Michael Hanna.
Professor Rothman’s research
into neurotransmitters
has revolutionised work
on the genetic basis of
neuropsychiatric conditions,
through his discovery of
the molecular machinery
responsible for transferring
materials among the
compartments within cells.
This has made it possible to
understand a whole range
of processes , including the
release of insulin into the blood,
communication between nerve
cells in the brain, and the entry
of viruses to infect cells.
Prof. James Rothman
and aims to contribute to
significant advances in our
understanding and treatment
of neurodegenerative diseases.
It will develop and evaluate
new methods and provide a
dedicated national resource
for testing novel therapies.
It will also create embedded
clinical and scientific training
programmes and international
links to develop the next
generation of international
leaders in neurodegeneration
and dementia research.
Looking ahead to
the next 20 years
The Leonard
Wolfson
Experimental
Neurology Centre
In December 2011, UCL
was awarded a grant of
£20 million from the Wolfson
Foundation to establish the
Leonard Wolfson Experimental
Neurology Centre, and to
support an initial five-year
period of translational research
and early intervention studies
in neurodegeneration.
The new Centre, completed
in November 2013, is housed
in the National Hospital and
forms part of the Institute of
Neurology at Queen Square.
It is headed by Dr Vincenzo
Libri, and will take an
interdisciplinary, cross disease
approach, led by eight Principal
Investigators at the Institute
(Professors Nick Fox, John
Collinge, John Hardy, Martin
Rossor, Anthony Schapira,
Sarah Tabrizi, Alan Thompson
and Nicholas Wood), bringing
together the expertise
of UCL’s leading scientists
and clinicians in the field
of neurodegeneration, with
renowned international
collaborators and industry
partners, to identify potential
disease-modifying therapies.
Leonard Wolfson
Experimental Neurology Centre
The Centre provides the
facilities needed to conduct
early intervention studies in
well characterised cohorts,
The National has published its
clinical vision and strategy for
the next 20 years. Professor
John Duncan, divisional clinical
director for the National
Hospital for Neurology and
Neurosurgery, explains some of
the background and highlights
of the plan.
“I’ve been a consultant here for
25 years and over that time
we’ve made huge progress in
countless different areas, but
they’ve all been separate projects.
This is the first time we’ve taken
a step back and looked at our
priorities for the next 20 years.
And that’s been particularly
important because patient
numbers have gone up by 70
per cent over the past five years,
and the Hospital’s full to capacity.
We’ve needed to do a complete,
root and branch review.”
The need to expand is top of
the list but clinical excellence
is key. “The co-location of the
Hospital and the Institute –
our work in combination –
is our absolute strength,”
Duncan points out. The vision
is for this partnership to
improve the clinical outcomes
and quality of life for every
individual with a neurological
disorder’ – not just those
treated at The National. For
each neurological specialty,
it will provide expert diagnosis,
using the latest technology;
offer novel treatments as soon
as they are available – including
pioneering internationally
recognised clinical research;
and train tomorrow’s
leading scientists.
By 2035 Queen Square aims to
be the best clinical neuroscience
centre in the world, pioneering
new diagnostic and interventional
techniques for the full range
of neurological specialties –
and helping to make these
developments standard practice
across the country.
The National | Spring/Summer 2014 | 5
ev
en
ts
We have a full programme of events
all year round. Find out what people
have been up to or sign up to take
part yourself
Enjoy a day
at the races
Ladies’ Day is the
most glamorous
event of Sandown
Park’s racing
calendar. Time to
get a new hat!
On 4 July, Sandown Park
Racecourse in Surrey hosts
its annual Ladies’ Day and
supporters of The National
Brain Appeal have the
opportunity to enjoy the day
in style.
Our race day will include a
drinks reception and a three-
course lunch with wine, as
well as a raffle and live and
silent auctions of some
extremely glamorous items
and experiences.
Tickets are £150 per
person and can be bought
at our online shop or by
completing the order form
on the page opposite.
The money we raise will
go towards The Operating
Theatres Appeal to fund a
completely new specialist
spinal theatre and a dedicated
nine-bed post-operative ward,
as well as upgrading the four
existing operating theatres
at The National.
Dates for
your diary
April
August ctd.
13: The Virgin Money
London Marathon
19: The National Brain Appeal
Birthday Tea. 3-4.30pm,
The Old Boardroom, NHNN
May
September
20: 30th Anniversary Lecture
6 and 7: Trekfest
25: BUPA 10,000
14: Nike+ 10K Run to the Beat
Places available. See page 4.
June
28: BMW Berlin Marathon
Places available. See page 4.
7 and 8: Trekfest
11: From Bach to the Swingles
Gala Concert. See page 4.
October
July
12: The Royal Parks Foundation
Half Marathon
Places available. See page 4.
4: Race Day. See above.
19 –26: The National Brain
Appeal Pyjama Party
August
November
2 and 3: The Virgin Active
London Triathlon
Places available. See page 4.
26: Christmas Bazaar
10: Prudential RideLondonSurrey 100
6 | The National | Spring/Summer 2014
December
11: Carol Concert
Time to put your
thinking (night)cap on
Following the
success of last
year’s event, it’s
nearly time to go
bananas in your
pyjamas again!
Dream up any pyjamathemed event you can think
of but if sleeping on it still
doesn’t give you any ideas
we’ve also got our helpful
free fundraising pack to help
you on your way: sign up at
www.pyjamaparty.org.uk
And to inspire you, here are
a few examples of last year’s
splendid fundraisers who
organised everything from
onesie parties to school pyjama
days, a pyjama spinathon to a
pyjama walk through Liverpool
– there was even a night of
poker in pyjamas …
Huge thanks too to our
celebrity ambassadors, including
Stephen Mangan and Matthew
Macfadyen of Jeeves and
Wooster, Xfm DJ Lliana Bird,
as well as cast members from
Episodes (Stephen Mangan,
Matt Le Blanc, Tamsin Greig
and Mircea Monroe) and
Downton Abbey (Hugh
Bonneville, Joanna David,
Lily James and Allen Leech).
We’d also like to say thank
you to Funzee who donated
£3,000 to our appeal.
Watch this space
for PyjamaFest!
We’re hoping to announce
an exciting new event so
keep an eye on our website
and sign up to our e-letter
for updates.
Why not visit www.
nationalbrainappeal.org/
contact-us to sign up today.
su
pp
or
t
Your donations and support
fund major new developments,
patient care and research
at The National Hospital
Ticket booking form
From Bach to the Swingles:
a gala concert
11 June at 7.30pm
St Luke’s Church, Battersea
PriceQuantity
Single ticket£25*
*Concessionary ticket (£20) available. Please call the office for more details
Ladies Day
From midday, Friday 4 July,
Gold Cup Suite,
Sandown Park Racecourse
Single ticket£150
A table of ten
£1,500
Total £
Our 30th
anniversary fund
Buying your
Christmas cards
from The National
Brain Appeal will
help rebuild our
Operating Theatres.
Here’s to the next 30 years – and to our hope that
we can continue to make huge strides in reducing the
effects of neurological conditions.
£30 will help us to fund critical projects as soon as
the need arises.
Thank you for your continued support
Making a donation
To support the work of The National Hospital for Neurology and
Neurosurgery, please complete the form below.
I enclose a donation of (tick appropriate box)
£20
£30
£50
£100
other £__________
I would like my donation to go towards (tick appropriate box)
The Operating Theatres Appeal
The 30th Anniversary Fund
The Small Acorns Fund
General Fund
If you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim tax back
on your gift through Gift Aid. Please tick the
box below and complete your contact details.
I would like to Gift Aid the enclosed donation of £____________
Signature _________________________ Date __________________
I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or
Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least
equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community
Amateur Sports Clubs that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for
that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council
Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on
every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.
Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made
(please tick all boxes you wish to apply):
this donation
in the past 4 years
in the future
Ticking the Gift
Aid box means that
we can reclaim an
extra 25p in every
pound that is donated
– that’s £5 for every
£20 donation!
If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate, please refer to
our website for further information.
Please notify the charity if you:
– want to cancel this declaration.
– change your name or home address.
– no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.
Contact and payment details
Payment by cheque
I enclose a cheque for £ _________
(please make cheques payable to The National Brain Appeal)
Title Payment by credit or debit card
Forename Name on card
Surname Card number
Address Expiry date on card
For office use only
/
Security/CVV code (last 3 digits)
Postcode Total amount £
Telephone Signature
E-mail Please send me information on… (please tick boxes)
#
If you would like to receive our bimonthly
E-newsletter which includes updates and news about
forthcoming events please tick here
making a regular donation by standing order
making a regular donation by Give as you Earn
Please return
this order form with
your payment to
The National Brain
Appeal, Box 123,
Queen Square,
London
WC1N 3BG.
leaving a bequest in my Will
The National | Spring/Summer 2014 | 7
th
an
ks
Thank you to all who have
done so much over the past
months to raise vital funds for
The National Brain Appeal
Thank you
We owe thanks to so many
of our supporters. These are
just some: but thank you to
everyone who has donated
time or money to us in the
past few months.
Christmas stories (voiced by
a number of famous actors),
raised almost £15,000.
Ashwin Vaghela –
Lionheart
Ashwin Vaghela, who has
muscular dystrophy, organised
a Sharad Bhojan and Bhajan
(a remembrance celebration
with music and food) as
president of the Lions Club
of Sudbury.
Sharad Bhojan and Bhajan
Ashwin is a patient at The
National Hospital, and
nominated us to be the club’s
charity of the year. Chief
executive Theresa Dauncey
and head of fundraising
Marcelle Johnson attended
the very moving evening,
along with Dr Ros Quinlivan,
a consultant from the Centre
for Neuromuscular Diseases.
The event raised over £6,000
and will be split between The
National Brain Appeal and the
Muscular Dystrophy Society.
Tall stories
Tales at Twilight, a magical
event where trees told
Tales at Twilight
These funds will help to buy
an Opmi Pentero microscope
for the theatres, which will
enable neurosurgeons to
differentiate more easily
between brain tumours and
normal tissue. Our thanks go
to Anne Hobson, Christopher
Buckmaster and Toby Brown
of TLC Estate Agents for
organising the event.
Remembering
Tom Willson
A special thank you in memory
of Tom Willson, who took
part in a sponsored cycle
ride around St Albans with
30 friends and raised nearly
£5,000. Tom had brain surgery
last September at The National.
Sadly he passed away suddenly
and unexpectedly in December
and our thoughts and best
wishes are with his wife Lynn,
family and friends.
“Tom was a generous-hearted
medical man who was quite
blown away by the whole
ethos of The National,” Lynn
recalls. “He was so impressed
with what could be achieved
in the field of brain surgery
nowadays and very privileged
The gift of time
to be offered intervention
in his own condition (a brain
tumour in the cerebellum,
secondary to his original
colon cancer).
In addition he was mightily
struck by the excellence of
every single worker he met
during the course of his stay,
and knew how special it was
to have every team in a large
organisation pulling together
so well. So he wanted to say
thank you by raising some
money for the hospital’s research.
Tom was partial to longdistance walks, but in the
end chose a cycle ride
instead, arguing that if he
could complete a cycle ride
it would better demonstrate
the recovery of his cerebellar
function after his operation.
Then he decided it would be
more fun if more people joined
him, and the whole thing
snowballed from there.”
Tom and friends
He’s got rhythm
Sasha, Roy and friends
Staring Death
(Valley) in the face
He says, “I was lucky enough to
have the support of amazing
Sasha and Roy
walk the walk
Sasha Brice-Houseman and
her partner Roy Jackson
raised nearly £2,000 in
sponsorship for us last July,
following the ambulance route
from their home in Essex to
Queen Square.
Money isn’t the
only thing you
can give to us.
Canadian student Charice Chan
volunteered with us in the office
for three days a week, over five
weeks. “I really was one of the
team,” she says. “I worked on
doctors, surgeons, nurses,
friends and work colleagues
who have been invaluable
in my recovery. I wanted to
give something back to The
National to help continue
providing this high level of
support to future patients.”
The Rhythm and Blues Brothers
Former patient Bhavesh
Patel took part in the Death
Valley Cycle Challenge in
November and raised an
amazing £6,500. Bhavesh
has a rare brain condition,
arteriovenous malformation of
the brain, which caused a brain
haemorrhage.
We are a very small team, and
we couldn’t get by without the
volunteers who help us in the
office, at our weekly information
stall in The National and at
our events. There are lots of
different options: from one
morning a week to a few
months (often a good choice
for students who want some
work experience) or even
‘cheerleading’ at our running
events (see page 4).
Joyce Chapman and Ty Davies
“I thought ‘a sponsored walk
is good but we need a twist’,”
said Sasha. “If we’re willing to
walk all that way, it shows
that we don’t mind working
hard and are committed, in
return for generous donations,
which in turn are donated to
a very worthwhile cause!”
Roy added that he feels he has
repaid some of the debt he
owes to The National and the
staff there.
Thanks to Rob Dervish for all
his hard work in organising a
charity gig that took place on
27 March. The Rhythm and
Blues Brothers performed,
supported by Queensburys
and Stella Sta.
We are grateful to the artists
for donating their time, and
to UCL’s Music Society for
allowing us to use the Richard
Mully Bar as the venue. At time
of print, the event had not yet
taken place, but is expected to
raise over £3,000.
Our Heroes
If you fundraise for us you
are a hero in our eyes. We
add all our heroes on to our
website hall of fame at www.
nationalbrainappeal.org/
our-heroes
Bhavesh Patel
a number of projects, including
the Pyjama Party campaign.
And I definitely wasn’t the
‘coffee girl’; I was doing handson work, which ranged from
drafting letters to head teachers,
telephoning supporters, putting
fundraising packs together
and emailing student unions.
Some of my favourite moments
were when supporters told us
their stories. Their bravery and
enthusiasm in supporting The
National Brain Appeal was
really quite inspiring.” Other volunteers are patients
at The National, like Teifion
(Ty) Davies, who has been
volunteering for us over the
past couple of months. Ty –
and fellow volunteer Joyce
Chapman – represent us at our
weekly information stall and are
always happy to chat to staff
The page is regularly updated
so you can proudly tell your
family and friends to check out
your achievements!
Charice Chan
and patients about the charity
in The National on Tuesdays.
Ty started volunteering at the
beginning of the year. ‘I attended
the Christmas Concert and
afterwards decided it was time
to give something back to the
hospital by offering my time.’
If you’d like to volunteer, or know
of someone who would be
interested, please get in touch.