Local MP Andrew Jones and members of his office team joined thousands of people across the country for Wear A Hat Day on 28 March 2014 highlighting the work of national charity Brain Tumour Research.
Andrew commented: Wearing a hat for Brain Tumour Research is a light-hearted way of raising awareness of a very serious issue. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and affect many people here in Harrogate and Knaresborough and across the country.
While the charity’s method of raising awareness may raise a smile we must not forget that brain tumours have one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers.
Lending our support to Brain Tumour Research will help scientists find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure for this devastating disease.
Andrew also took the campaign to the floor of the House of Commons highlighting the work of local charity the PPR Foundation, founded by Pamela Roberts who lost her husband to a brain tumour. Andrew asked Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, Leader of the House of Commons, for a parliamentary debate on raising awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours in the under-40s.
Mr Lansley responded: It is important that my hon. Friend raises the work that PPR and Pamela Roberts are doing, and I am grateful to him for doing so. When I was Secretary of State, I was very aware of the continuing risk of brain tumours, particularly among younger people, and the lack of diagnosis and treatment options. That is one of the reasons we took the decision to invest £150 million in the establishment of proton beam therapy centres. It is a continuing issue.
Main photograph: Local MP Andrew Jones with members of his office team. L-R Kate Mackenzie – Parliamentary Assistant, Volunteer – Mariam Haidara, Andrew Jones, Rebecca Burnett – Senior Caseworker and Ed Darling – Diary Coordinator.
For more information about Brain Tumour Research visit their website www.braintumourresearch.org send them an email at info@braintumourreserach.org or call them on 01296 733011.
For information about Wear A Hat Day go to www.wearahatday.org or email wearahatday@braintumourresearch.org.
