Latest news with #BrainTumourAwarenessMonth
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Brainy Beanies Exhibition Comes To Christchurch In Support Of Brain Tumour Awareness Month
Press Release – Brain Tumour Support New Zealand This marks the first time Brainy Beanies comes to Christchurch, offering locals a chance to be part of this heartwarming movement. Christchurch, May 2025 – In honour of Brain Tumour Awareness Month this May, Brain Tumour Support NZ is proud to present the Brainy Beanies Exhibition, making its Christchurch debut at the Pūmanawa Community Exhibition Space, 2 Worcester Boulevard. Running from 20–25 May, with a public launch on Monday 19 May at 6:00 PM, the exhibition features a stunning collection of more than 800 handcrafted beanies—all created and donated by generous crafters from across Aotearoa. Each beanie is available for purchase, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting New Zealanders affected by brain tumours. Launched in Waikato in 2021, Brainy Beanies has grown into a powerful symbol of compassion, creativity, and community. The talented artists behind Brainy Beanies are everyday Kiwis with extraordinary hearts—individuals and knitting groups from all over New Zealand who pour love and care into every stitch. Each beanie is more than just a piece of clothing; it is a symbol of compassion, connection, and community support. Many of these crafters have a personal connection to brain tumours—they may have lost a loved one, supported a friend through their diagnosis, or even faced their own journey with a brain tumour. For them, creating these beanies is a deeply personal way to honour, remember, and give back. Others are dedicated makers who simply want to use their skills for good, contributing to a cause that brings warmth and hope to those in need. Every beanie carries the signature Brainy Beanie label, reminding wearers they are connected to a nationwide network of care. 'This initiative is about more than fundraising—it's about connection,' says Sarah Verran, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Support NZ. 'Each beanie is created with love by someone who cares, and when you wear one, you become part of a bigger story—one of empathy, strength, and solidarity.' Visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in a vibrant display where every beanie tells its own raised will go toward Brain Tumour Support NZ's vital work, including the provision of Brain Box care packages for newly diagnosed patients and ongoing support services for individuals and whānau navigating the complexities of brain tumour diagnosis and treatment. Event Details: Brainy Beanies Exhibition Launch Pūmanawa Community Exhibition Space, 2 Worcester Boulevard Monday 19 May 6:00 – 7:30 PM- open to the public, all welcome Exhibition Open: 20–25 May Admission is free – all are welcome! This marks the first time Brainy Beanies comes to Christchurch, offering locals a chance to be part of this heartwarming movement. By attending, visitors don't just witness a celebration of craftsmanship and community—they become part of a cause that brings comfort, connection, and support to those facing the challenges of a brain tumour across New Zealand
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Brainy Beanies Exhibition Comes To Christchurch In Support Of Brain Tumour Awareness Month
Christchurch, May 2025 – In honour of Brain Tumour Awareness Month this May, Brain Tumour Support NZ is proud to present the Brainy Beanies Exhibition, making its Christchurch debut at the Pūmanawa Community Exhibition Space, 2 Worcester Boulevard. Running from 20–25 May, with a public launch on Monday 19 May at 6:00 PM, the exhibition features a stunning collection of more than 800 handcrafted beanies—all created and donated by generous crafters from across Aotearoa. Each beanie is available for purchase, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting New Zealanders affected by brain tumours. Launched in Waikato in 2021, Brainy Beanies has grown into a powerful symbol of compassion, creativity, and community. The talented artists behind Brainy Beanies are everyday Kiwis with extraordinary hearts—individuals and knitting groups from all over New Zealand who pour love and care into every stitch. Each beanie is more than just a piece of clothing; it is a symbol of compassion, connection, and community support. Many of these crafters have a personal connection to brain tumours—they may have lost a loved one, supported a friend through their diagnosis, or even faced their own journey with a brain tumour. For them, creating these beanies is a deeply personal way to honour, remember, and give back. Others are dedicated makers who simply want to use their skills for good, contributing to a cause that brings warmth and hope to those in need. Every beanie carries the signature Brainy Beanie label, reminding wearers they are connected to a nationwide network of care. "This initiative is about more than fundraising—it's about connection," says Sarah Verran, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Support NZ. 'Each beanie is created with love by someone who cares, and when you wear one, you become part of a bigger story—one of empathy, strength, and solidarity.' Visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in a vibrant display where every beanie tells its own raised will go toward Brain Tumour Support NZ's vital work, including the provision of Brain Box care packages for newly diagnosed patients and ongoing support services for individuals and whānau navigating the complexities of brain tumour diagnosis and treatment. Event Details: Brainy Beanies Exhibition Launch Pūmanawa Community Exhibition Space, 2 Worcester Boulevard Monday 19 May 6:00 – 7:30 PM- open to the public, all welcome Exhibition Open: 20–25 May Admission is free – all are welcome! This marks the first time Brainy Beanies comes to Christchurch, offering locals a chance to be part of this heartwarming movement. By attending, visitors don't just witness a celebration of craftsmanship and community—they become part of a cause that brings comfort, connection, and support to those facing the challenges of a brain tumour across New Zealand
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Brain Tumour Awareness Month: Kent film club screens documentary
A Kent film club set up by a woman who lost her partner to a brain tumour has screened a documentary showcasing the realities of this "dreadful disease".Canterbury Christ Church University academic Jane Milton runs the club, which was set up last year with the Curzon Canterbury Westgate partner, BBC South East sports reporter Neil Bell, died in March 2018 after a battle with brain Milton, who decided to present the film Red Herring during Brain Tumour Awareness Month, said: "I was told we know more about black holes than we do about the brain." Red Herring tells the story of writer and director Kit Vincent, who was diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumour at the age of Milton said she was certain that she wanted this to be the first film she presented at the club."This is a great way for him to process his grief; in a way it would be legacy, but it's life-affirming and very humorous – he's incredibly brave," she said. Alongside a desire to raise awareness is the feeling that occasions like Monday's screening help "keep Neil's memory alive".Ms Milton said: "We think about Neil every day; my boys, his family, his miss him dreadfully, but we also think about the happy times, the memories."According to the Brain Tumour Charity, over 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour – 33 people a form of cancer reduces life expectancy by 27 years on average – the highest of any cancer – with just 12% of adults surviving for five years after diagnosis.
The Independent
15-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Teenager with rare brain tumour raising funds for lifesaving treatment
A teenager diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumour is raising funds for lifesaving treatment. Joscelyne Kerr, 19, was finishing school in 2023 when she noticed the pupil in her eye had expanded so much that the colour was barely visible. In June that year, an optician believed it to be a rare neurological disorder called Adie pupil, but after her pupil grew larger and she began to experience double vision, she was referred to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for a CT scan, and was told it was a tumour. Ms Kerr, of Kinross, said: 'My dad used to be a medic in the Army and joked he'd only seen this happen on three types of people: someone who had a stroke, a drug addict and a dead person. 'So, as none of these applied, we didn't think much of it at first until my symptoms worsened. After a second optician's visit a few weeks later, they referred us to the hospital, where a CT scan found a shadow in my brain. 'An urgent MRI then revealed what they thought was a schwannoma tumour on my third ocular nerve. This type of tumour is rare, but having it located on the third ocular nerve sheath is even more unusual, with only about 60 known cases worldwide. 'At first, they thought it was a low-grade tumour and had been growing slowly for years, but as my symptoms were changing every few weeks and getting worse, we insisted on getting scanned again sooner. 'After celebrating my 18th birthday and starting my university course, we were shocked to find the tumour had doubled in size and was growing aggressively.' Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and adults under 40. According to Brain Tumour Research, only 1% of national cancer research funding has been allocated to fighting them since records began in 2002. The charity has organised a month-long programme of events to highlight the impact of the disease as Brain Tumour Awareness Month marks its 15-year anniversary. Ms Kerr's tumour began spreading towards the brain stem, which was once considered an inoperable area due to the risks. She had two options: radiotherapy or high-risk surgery, aiming to remove it entirely. She opted for surgery, and in December 2023, she underwent an operation which removed 90% of the tumour. Due to complications, she experienced memory and muscle function loss, and had to relearn how to speak, read and write. Four days later, her body shut down and she was unable to respond to pain or movement. Eventually she regained all functions, but she then received further bad news. Ms Kerr said: 'After a biopsy, doctors diagnosed me with an ultra-rare and cancerous tumour, with a prognosis of 12-18 months. 'They weren't sure if it was an epithelioid glioblastoma (e-GBM) or an anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (APXA), but they knew it was serious. 'Although 90% of it had been removed, the remainder – a crystallised mass – was wrapped around my carotid artery, the main blood supply to my brain. It was devastating, but my mum stayed calm and told me, 'It's just a number'. My grandparents had outlived grim prognoses before so we refused to give up.' She added: 'I was told I needed to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and figured if this was going to be my last Christmas, then we would make it the best one ever.' She had six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in January 2024, but in March, scans revealed both had been ineffective, and the tumour was confirmed as AXPA, the only confirmed case in Scotland. Due to the tumour branching, Ms Kerr was prescribed trial drugs Dabrafenib and Trametinib, targeted cancer treatments used to treat small cell solid tumours. A follow-up scan showed the drugs had shrunk the tumour back to its chrysalis state. Ms Kerr and her family are now raising funds for a trial drug named DCVax-L, which costs £250,000, in the hope that it can save her life. It has only been tested on glioblastoma patients but shows promise on AXPA. So far, she has raised nearly £100,000. She said: 'I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity I've experienced since all of this happened. My community has done marathons, gym days, black-tie events and so much more to support me. I couldn't be more grateful to everyone. 'I am also focused on raising awareness about brain tumours, and it's exciting to see the new Brain Tumour Research centre has recently opened in Edinburgh, near my university flat. 'We desperately need more research in this disease because I believe the treatments people receive aren't always the right ones, and it's only with well-funded research that we can change this and save thousands of lives.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teenager with rare brain tumour raising funds for lifesaving treatment
A teenager diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumour is raising funds for lifesaving treatment. Joscelyne Kerr, 19, was finishing school in 2023 when she noticed the pupil in her eye had expanded so much that the colour was barely visible. In June that year, an optician believed it to be a rare neurological disorder called Adie pupil, but after her pupil grew larger and she began to experience double vision, she was referred to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for a CT scan, and was told it was a tumour. Ms Kerr, of Kinross, said: 'My dad used to be a medic in the Army and joked he'd only seen this happen on three types of people: someone who had a stroke, a drug addict and a dead person. 'So, as none of these applied, we didn't think much of it at first until my symptoms worsened. After a second optician's visit a few weeks later, they referred us to the hospital, where a CT scan found a shadow in my brain. 'An urgent MRI then revealed what they thought was a schwannoma tumour on my third ocular nerve. This type of tumour is rare, but having it located on the third ocular nerve sheath is even more unusual, with only about 60 known cases worldwide. 'At first, they thought it was a low-grade tumour and had been growing slowly for years, but as my symptoms were changing every few weeks and getting worse, we insisted on getting scanned again sooner. 'After celebrating my 18th birthday and starting my university course, we were shocked to find the tumour had doubled in size and was growing aggressively.' Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and adults under 40. According to Brain Tumour Research, only 1% of national cancer research funding has been allocated to fighting them since records began in 2002. The charity has organised a month-long programme of events to highlight the impact of the disease as Brain Tumour Awareness Month marks its 15-year anniversary. Ms Kerr's tumour began spreading towards the brain stem, which was once considered an inoperable area due to the risks. She had two options: radiotherapy or high-risk surgery, aiming to remove it entirely. She opted for surgery, and in December 2023, she underwent an operation which removed 90% of the tumour. Due to complications, she experienced memory and muscle function loss, and had to relearn how to speak, read and write. Four days later, her body shut down and she was unable to respond to pain or movement. Eventually she regained all functions, but she then received further bad news. Ms Kerr said: 'After a biopsy, doctors diagnosed me with an ultra-rare and cancerous tumour, with a prognosis of 12-18 months. 'They weren't sure if it was an epithelioid glioblastoma (e-GBM) or an anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (APXA), but they knew it was serious. 'Although 90% of it had been removed, the remainder – a crystallised mass – was wrapped around my carotid artery, the main blood supply to my brain. It was devastating, but my mum stayed calm and told me, 'It's just a number'. My grandparents had outlived grim prognoses before so we refused to give up.' She added: 'I was told I needed to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and figured if this was going to be my last Christmas, then we would make it the best one ever.' She had six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in January 2024, but in March, scans revealed both had been ineffective, and the tumour was confirmed as AXPA, the only confirmed case in Scotland. Due to the tumour branching, Ms Kerr was prescribed trial drugs Dabrafenib and Trametinib, targeted cancer treatments used to treat small cell solid tumours. A follow-up scan showed the drugs had shrunk the tumour back to its chrysalis state. Ms Kerr and her family are now raising funds for a trial drug named DCVax-L, which costs £250,000, in the hope that it can save her life. It has only been tested on glioblastoma patients but shows promise on AXPA. So far, she has raised nearly £100,000. She said: 'I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity I've experienced since all of this happened. My community has done marathons, gym days, black-tie events and so much more to support me. I couldn't be more grateful to everyone. 'I am also focused on raising awareness about brain tumours, and it's exciting to see the new Brain Tumour Research centre has recently opened in Edinburgh, near my university flat. 'We desperately need more research in this disease because I believe the treatments people receive aren't always the right ones, and it's only with well-funded research that we can change this and save thousands of lives. To support Ms Kerr's immunotherapy fundraiser or to donate to her cause, visit:
