Theresa Dauncey
Chief Executive, The National Brain Appeal
One in six of us in the UK has a neurological disorder. That’s more than those affected by coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. Supporting these 14.7 million people is therefore vital, if costly, work.
It is a staggering statistic, that one in six of us suffers from a neurological disorder, such as stroke, brain tumours, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and dementia. At The National Brain Appeal we work closely with the world-leading doctors, surgeons and researchers at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, to fund their pioneering research, provide access to the best technology for expert diagnosis and treatment for their patients, and train tomorrow’s clinicians.
Since 1984 we have raised more than £45 million that we have invested in major new developments, patient care and research, including the UK’s first dedicated Brain Tumour Unit, the Dementia Research Centre and the MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases.
This would not have been possible without the incredible donors and supporters who have run marathons, cycled the length and breadth of the country, climbed mountains, held events in memory of loved ones, left a legacy in their Will, as well as generous support from grant-making trusts, companies and community groups.
One in six of us in the UK has a neurological disorder. That’s more than those affected by coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined.
Our current appeals include:
Aphasia
A transformative high dose therapy programme, providing 100 hours of therapy for patients with aphasia — speech and language difficulties following stroke, traumatic brain injury or brain tumours. The programme began in July 2019 with very encouraging results to date.
Rare Dementia Support
The world’s first dedicated specialist support service, providing information and guidance for people living with rare dementias, their carers, their families and their friends; support groups that bring people together to share their experiences and access to specialist doctors, nurses and researchers.
Immunotherapy
The UK’s first large scale immunotherapy clinical trial for NHS patients recently diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer, the most common type of primary, malignant and very aggressive brain tumour. This is currently underway and will be recruiting patients until the end of June 2020.
As well as our big appeals, we have a Small Acorns Fund, where front-line staff have the chance to apply for funding to fast-track smaller scale projects that will have a big impact and benefit to patients, such as mindfulness training to help staff teach their patients how to manage neuropathic pain and mobile arm supports to aid those affected by a stroke. These might be small changes, but the difference they can make to people’s lives are enormous.
There are many ways that you can support our work: by making a donation, taking on a fundraising challenge, getting your company involved, volunteering for us, becoming one of our Ambassadors for Innovation and leaving a legacy in your Will.
Legacies represent around a third of our annual income. Leaving just 1% of your estate can make a real difference and is an investment in the future. The more money we receive, the more support we can give to The National Hospital, which in turn improves the prospects for those affected by neurological disorders.
