£70k before 70 fundraising campaign for The Brain Tumour Charity in memory of grandmother

• You are a fundraiser for The Brain Tumour Charity (TBTC). How did you get involved?

My sister Julie was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2008. For her 60th birthday, in March 2012, she wanted to raise £1,000 for TBTC. With her friends and family a total amount of £15,000 was raised. We also participated in the first 10k Twilight Walk in Windsor, plus a Daylight Walk for Julie’s grandchildren. Julie died in 2015, but family and friends, the Heads Up supporters group, determined to continue with the annual Walk. Julie raised a fantastic £25,000 during the few years she had left to make a difference. Since her death, her family and friends have taken that total to £60,300.35.

• How did your current ‘£70,000 before 70’ campaign come about?

Julie was passionate about the charity and we wanted to bring the total to £70,000 by the time she would have turned 70. Covid-19 has made it especially challenging, but we’re determined to raise £9,699.65 to take us to £70,000 by March 2022.

• Was Julie’s wish to be part of the solution a driving force in your determination to continue fundraising?

Yes, absolutely. When she was still alive Julie said: “When I was diagnosed with a brain tumour, my family felt like there was nothing they could do. Fundraising as a family has helped us all take control and be part of the cure”. She found comfort in fundraising and through it created a group of friends. We had some fun times during what were some pretty horrible times.

• So fundraising and friendship was Julie’s legacy?

Talking about her funeral she thought of putting a couple of friends in touch with another couple of friends. That was her thinking ahead; creating a network of support for her daughters. As family and friends we have continued to get together for quizzes and walks and weekends away. We’ve even been doing digital quizzes during lockdown.

• Fundraising can be difficult. Is it likely to get harder in the wake of the pandemic?

Many charities are being hard hit by the pandemic, but fundraising is much more creative these days and will, I think, get even more creative after Covid-19. But to anyone thinking about fundraising, I’d say just give it a go. Even small donations help, and people do help. I was surprised by the number of people who had been affected by brain tumours and who shared their own stories with me.

• Do you know how the money you have raised so far has been used?

TBTC has been really helpful and supportive to us. They don’t have big swanky offices; the charity manages its money well and 100% of Julie’s Heads Up Fund goes into research. We have funded 250 days of research into brain tumours already. If we achieve 70k then that will equal 280 days. That’s a real impact.

• Where can we find out more?

Our fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/70-before-70

About TBTC: www.thebraintumourcharity.org

To enter our Big, Fun Christmas Quiz email [email protected]

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