Next Fundraising event

Jodi, Sheena, Ciara and A-M are off pounding the streets again - this time doing the Royal Parks half marathon on Sunday 9th Oct to raise much needed funds for the Brain Tumour Charity and the Patrick Spratt Fund.

The Patrick Spratt fund

Its almost 10 years since we lost Spratty to damn brain cancer, the Patrick Spratt fund goes from strength to strength, keeping his memory alive and raising very valuable funds to fight paediatric  brain tumours

We have raised over £50K thus far which is a fantastic achievement to all involved and is testament to the generosity and hard work of his friends and family. Not that it's all been hard work....... The annual Christmas party is well established as possibly the best session in London town these days. Some craic. (this year's party takes place at Magic Garden, Battersea on 26th Nov).

Background to the Charity

The Patrick Spratt fund was set up in honour of Spratty and will specifically help raise awareness and fund research into paediatric brain tumours.

Spratty was first diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in 2008. It was successfully removed through surgery but unfortunately the tumour returned a month after his wedding in 2010. And this time it was cancerous. He had surgery and 5 weeks of chemotherapy which led to him losing most of his hair. His skull became infected as a result of the surgery so he had a big chunk of that chopped out too. (He got some weird looks on the tube after this). The cancer stayed away until in June 2012 , the day before the due date of his first child, scan results showed that the cancer was back. He then began 9 months of chemotherapy but in April 2013 was told that the cancer had spread significantly and that there were no further treatment options available. He died in his home in Stoke Newington, London on 15th June, aged 39, and his funeral took place on his daughter Feile's, first birthday.

Spratty's cancer never slowed him down. In the 5 years since his  diagnosis, he got married, had a child, travelled loads and got a golf hole in one. He continued working in the City (even when doing chemotherapy), partied hard, travelled to some crazy places (North Korea, Lebanon, Syria (the war had started)), played golf regularly and continued his trips to White Hart Lane to support the mighty Spurs. He really was a legend. And was adored by all who knew him. His sense of social justice and his passion for politics and current affairs stood out. And his wit and sense of humour were unrivalled. He was amazing and crazy and intelligent and hilarious. He was truly an original. It sounds cliched but there will never be another like him.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. Brain cancer is woefully underfunded and receives less than 1% of national cancer funding in the UK.

More research and a better understanding of brain cancer may not have saved Spratty but maybe he would have been with us for a bit longer and had a chance to spend more time with his daughter, friends and family.

Please give generously - it's a deserving cause.