BBC Children in Need have extended their support for The Brain Tumour Charity with a grant of over £114,000 which will help fund a Children and Families Worker and enable The Charity to deliver an additional four family days a year.
Deborah nine-year-old daughter Ella was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010. Since Ella’s diagnosis, the whole family have attended several Family Days. They most recently attended the Birmingham Family Day in November.
Deborah said, “The days are so special and each time I am amazed at how needed they are. It is always lovely to catch up with the team and meet all the families. Best of all is seeing all those amazing children have fun and enjoy themselves. Our children were buzzing on the way back – until they fell asleep with big smiles on their faces.
“Each day gives us special memories and are a reminder of how far we have come thanks to all the help from the charity.”
St James’s Place Foundation’s grant of over £93,000 will also help fund the Children and Families Worker and allow The Charity to run twelve paediatric information days over the next three years and distribute The Brainy Bags to children affected by the disease.
The grant will go towards funding education resources to help and support a child, their parents and teachers when they return to school following a brain tumour diagnosis or treatment.
The grant has been made in association with The Alex Bolt Fund, an official supporter group of The Brain Tumour Charity.
Jeannette Bolt, whose sixteen-year-old son Alex died of a brain tumour in 2011, said, “We are very excited by the creation of an additional Children and Families Worker. They will be able to provide much needed support and information for the whole family during the frightening journey from when a child is diagnosed with a brain tumour to possible end of life.
“For The Alex Bolt Fund to be involved in such a worthy and important aspect of brain tumour care is very encouraging and I’m sure Alex would be immensely pleased and proud of the creation of this new role.”
Sarah Lindsell, our CEO, said, “We are immensely grateful for the ongoing and generous support of BBC Children in Need as well as the support of St James’s Place Foundation. We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to deliver crucial support services for those who have been affected by this devastating disease.
“These grants will enable us to support hundreds of children and young people who are diagnosed and affected by a brain tumour.”