Mo Mowlam’s doctor, Dr Mark Glaser, hopes that the Channel 4 film starring Julie Walters as Mo Mowlam helps to raise the issues of the biggest cancer killer of children and people under the age of 40.
Brain Tumour Research, an umbrella charity for 14 brain tumour charities throughout the UK, welcomed the C4 film Mo, about the life of Mo Mowlam, who died in 2005 from a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and young people than any other cancer. Channel 4’s programme made accessible what some would see as a difficult subject.
Mo Mowlam’s own doctor, Dr Mark Glaser, Chief of Service, Cancer Services and lead clinician in Neuro-Oncology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and also trustee of Brain Tumour Research Campaign, one of the charities that is part of Brain Tumour Research, said today: 'I hope that the Channel 4 programme about Mo Mowlam might help the general public understand this difficult and as yet not fully understood disease.'
Brain Tumour Research director, Sue Farrington Smith, said: 'Brain tumours claim the lives of more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and yet brain tumour research is woefully under-funded. We are delighted that the combination of two high profile people, Julie Walters and Mo Mowlam, will raise the public awareness of the affects of this dreadful disease and highlight the inequalities of funding for research into brain tumours compared to other cancers.'
Brain Tumour Research represents the united campaign voice of the Brain Tumour Research group of charities. Established in 2008, the charity Brain Tumour Research was launched specifically to raise substantial funds for brain tumour research and operates as a separate entity to the member charities.
Originally set up in 2004 as an informal partnership of a number of UK brain tumour charities under the banner of the United Brain Tumour Campaign, these charities committed themselves to working together to achieve a common goal, namely to raise funds for research into the prevention and treatment of brain tumours, as well as ultimately finding a cure.
Each of the members was galvanised into action as a result of personal involvement with brain tumours, having realised that there was relatively little being done to support brain tumour patients or carers, or towards funding research into finding a cure.
Today there are fourteen UK brain tumour charities represented within the Brain Tumour Research group, giving the charity nationwide coverage. In 2008 these charities jointly raised over £1 million.
Funds raised will be allocated to existing UK centres where brain tumour research is already being carried out. Funds will be granted following an invitation for applications and will be subject to peer review.
The fourteen charities that are part of Brain Tumour Research are:
Ali's Dream: www.alisdream.org.uk
Andrea's Gift: www.andreasgift.org.uk
Anna's Hope: www.annashope.co.uk
Brain and Spine Foundations: www.brainandspine.org.uk
Brain Tumour Action: www.braintumouraction.org.uk
Brain Tumour Research Campaign: www.wayahead-btrc.org
Brainstrust: www.brainstrust.org.uk
Brainwaves: www.brainwaves-ni.org
Charlie's Challenge: www.charlieschallenge.com
Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre: www.cbtrc.org
Diana Ford Trust, The
Ellie Savage Memorial Trust: www.elliestrust.org
Hammer Out: www.hammerout.co.uk
Levi's Star www.levisstar.co.uk
