Middleton toddler gets her hat on for starring role in Brain Tumour Research campaign

A toddler whose father is living with a brain tumour is starring in a campaign to raise funds to help find a cure for the disease.

At just 18 months old, Annabelle Taylor is the youngest child to feature in this year’s national Wear A Hat Day campaign by the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The Middleton tot is among a handful of children who were invited to take part and their images will be seen across the country as the campaign is launched ready for Brain Tumour Awareness month in March. Like Annabelle, all the children have either been bereaved by a brain tumour, are living with a brain tumour or have a close family member who has been diagnosed.

The children, aged up to 13, are donning their best headwear from beanies to cowboy hats, trilbies to Panamas, baseball caps to novelty headpieces, and are asking others to join them for Wear A Hat Day 2019, the UK’s brain tumour awareness event.

This year, it takes place on Friday 29 March and is expected to smash all records as it marks its 10th year.

Annabelle’s dad Neil was diagnosed aged 32 with a grade 3 astrocytoma after suffering seizures in his sleep.

Recently married to Alex and looking forward to the birth of Annabelle, the news devastated 32-year-old Neil, but he set out to raise money to help fund the fight against the disease. In 2018, the couple launched Neil’s Appeal, a fundraising group which has raised more than £15,000 under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research.

Neil, who works as a franchise supervisor at McDonalds, said: “We’re so proud of Annabelle for being part of the Wear A Hat Day campaign. It means so much to my family and I to help contribute towards a cure, so it’s an honour to have her take part. Annabelle had such a fun time at the photoshoot too and it will be a lovely memento for her to look back on.”

Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful to Annabelle and her family for helping us to launch Wear A Hat Day 2019. I know that people will be both distressed and inspired to hear the stories of all of these families who, like my own, know the pain of a brain tumour diagnosis.

“We are entirely committed to easing this pain by improving treatment options for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease; Brain Tumour Research is proud to be changing this.

“The sad truth is that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age and this means the impact on families is enormous. Too many children are losing siblings, parents and grandparents, too many parents are enduring the agony of their child’s diagnosis, and society as a whole continues to bear the burden of increased costs through the NHS, lost taxes, and demands on the benefits system.”

Wear A Hat Day has raised over a million pounds since it was launched by Brain Tumour Research 10 years ago and is the culmination of Brain Tumour Awareness Month in March. The big day will see schools, workplaces, families and individuals across the UK fundraising and taking part in fun events to raise awareness of brain tumours and help fund life-saving research.

Funds raised will develop the charity’s network of world-class brain tumour research centres in the UK where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.

To get involved, or donate, please text HAT to 70660 to donate £5 or visit:

• www.wearahatday.org