Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) Ladies Hockey Club 2nd XI are kicking off the 2016/17 season with a 10km run along Putney Riverside in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity. 

What's a better way to start the season than with a team 10k? What's more, we're aiming to raise over £1000 for a charity very close to our hearts. 

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killers of the under 40s and children 

In 2008 one of our members, Lauren, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 15:

"I waited 2 years of countless GP appointments, debilitating symptoms, and dropping to 6 stone before I was finally diagnosed.  I was very lucky that my tumour could be treated with surgery and radiotherapy.  However, the treatment came with difficulties - it was weeks before I was able to walk independently after the surgery, even longer until I could go back to school, and around a year before I felt back to my normal self again. Although the treatment I received was tough, I was still in the minority who are able to return to a normal life. I have seen young children for which there are very limited, if any, treatment options and the prognosis is extremely poor, as well as adults that have surpassed the average survival but have many long term complications from their treatment meaning they are unable to live a normal, independent life. Currently brain tumour research is massively underfunded, with only 1% of the national cancer research spend, giving a 5 year survival rate of less than 20%."

Thankfully, Lauren survived. She's here today running the race to make sure other people get the opportunity to as well.  

The Brain Tumour charity is helping to fund vital research, decrease diagnosis time by increasing awareness through their HeadSmart campaign, and support those suffering from brain tumours and those around them to improve quality of life.  To date they have decreased average diagnosis time in children from 14.4 to 6.7 weeks, invested £18.7million in research, and supported over 20,000 people affected by brain tumours.

www.thebraintumourcharity.org

We would love to be able to help them to continue this vital work, and hope you can help us support this very worthy cause! All donations will be much appreciated, so please give as generously as you can!!

Thank you,

The 2s

Lisa, Lauren, Jenny, Livi, Hattie, Michelle & Robyn xxxxx