Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am Fire-walking to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research, under the umbrella group of Taylan's Project. Taylan was a popular little boy, who attended the same Pre-school and School as our son, until his life was tragically cut short at the tender age of only seven years old. He had been diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumour only ten months before he passed away.

Our own son, Hugo, and many of the local children deeply felt the loss of their friend – and still miss him today. The close-knit community where we live have all felt this sad loss, too. Taylan's parents and his two younger brothers have been through so much - the loss of Taylan was, and still is, devastating for them and all who knew him.

Since Taylan passed away, Andy and Figen, with the support of their extended families and their extensive network of friends, have tirelessly worked towards raising the much needed funding into Brain Tumour Research, that will hopefully lead to a cure for this terrible illness one day. They also raise funds to enable families, who have terminally ill children, take a final holiday together. What amazing people the Rawlinsons are, I am sure you will agree, to focus so much time, effort and energy on this cause, after everything they have endured. I feel privileged to know them and be involved with Fire-walking for Taylan’s Project.

Some Facts and Statistics...

Brain tumours are the biggest killer of children and those aged under 40 in the UK.

16,000 people each year in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour. 
20% of all cancers now spread to the brain.
Primary tumours cannot be prevented because their cause is unknown.
More men under the age of 45 and women under the age of 35 die from a brain tumour than any other cancer.
While the five-year survival rate for many cancers is over 50% and rising to over 90% for some cancers, for brain tumours the five year survival rate for men is 14.1% and women is now 13.8%.
Brain tumours are the most common solid tumour found in children and they have overtaken leukaemia as the biggest cancer killer of children in the UK.
The number of children dying from a brain tumour in 2007 was 33% higher than in 2001; child deaths from leukaemia were 39% lower than in 2001.
Brain tumour research receives less than 1% (0.7%) of cancer research spending in the UK.
The amount the government has spent on cancer research related to brain tumours in 2007-8 is half the 'official' figure of £970,000 from the Medical Research Council.

 

Shocking reading, isn’t it?

Now, I really must be honest... I am not exactly sure what this Fire-walking actually entails – it sounds ominous, but hopefully achievable, with a 'mind-over-matter' attitude. So, please sponsor me and make whatever it is that I am going to put myself through, very worthwhile. The more I stand to raise, the less I am likely to get ‘cold feet’!

See more about Taylan and the incredible work being done to raise awareness and funds for BrainTumour work at www.taylansproject.com and www.braintumourresearch.org

 

 

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