Fundraising boost for brain tumour research

A Middleton man’s brain tumour diagnosis has motivated his workmates to raise money to help find a cure for the disease.

Neil Taylor, 33, has undergone surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma brain tumour in February 2017 after suffering seizures in his sleep.

Recently married to wife Alex, and looking forward to the birth of their first child, daughter Annabelle, the news devastated the young couple but they set out to raise money to help fund the fight against brain tumours.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123128/-research-is-our-only-hope-young-couple-determined-to-help-find-a-cure-for-brain-tumours

Staff at 12 McDonald’s restaurants across Manchester rallied round to raise £2,792 to fund the fight against brain tumours which kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Franchisee Gerald Thompson rallied his 12 restaurants to fundraise throughout December in support of employee and brain tumour patient Neil Taylor. The money is a welcome boost for Neil’s Appeal, which was recently launched as a Fundraising Group under the umbrella of the Brain Tumour Research.

 

 

Gerald, owner operator of C&T Restaurants, said: “Fundraising for Neil’s Appeal is the least I can do for Neil who has been a loyal and hard-working employee at McDonald’s for over a decade. His determination to fundraise towards a cure is inspiring and he has my full support.”

Neil said: “We are on a mission to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients like myself and I want Neil’s Appeal to help bring us closer to a cure. The £2,792 raised is a significant step in the right direction and we’re extremely grateful to Gerald for his support.

“We have lots of exciting activities planned for 2019 and hope many more will join #TaylorsWarriors. We need as many people as possible to help us raise awareness of this disease. Together we will find a cure.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated Centres of Excellence in the UK; it also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is calling for an annual spend of £35m in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

Andrea Pankiw, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research in the North West, said: “Thank you to Gerald and everyone else who contributed towards this donation; their fundraising activity is also helping us to raise awareness of the fact that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“Historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease and, with the help of our Fundraising Groups and supporters, we are proud to be changing this.”

To make a donation to Neil’s Appeal, go to:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/neil-taylor27