Walk Around the World for Brain Tumo(u)rs and the Inaugural International Brain Tumo(u)r Awareness Week.
News Update 1 October 2007

Dear Friend of the International Brain Tumour Community,
 
As the Awareness Week (21-27 October) approaches we have been informed of many awareness-raising activities that are planned or have already been held. Here are some recent developments:
 
Michel Esnault, Chair of GFME Glioblastoma Fundation Michele Esnault in France, advises that on the first day of the Awareness Week, Sunday 21 October, there will be a walk of 1.2 kms along the Boulevard Longchamp, 13001 Marseille. The Town Hall administrators will provide a tent, tables and chairs, for the walkers. It is hoped that physicians from the Timone Hospital will participate …
 
The European Federation of Neurological Associations has circulated its member organisations  about the IBTA’s Awareness Week …
 
The US-based Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation which has been in existence for 16 years and has raised $34m for pediatric brain tumor research and support projects has created a link on its homepage to the World Walk and Awareness Week and has conveyed best wishes for the success of these projects. The PBTF already has a very successful annual awareness-raising activity “Ride for kids”® involving motorcyclists …
 
The Cancer Council Queensland (Australia) Brain Tumour Support Service will hold a Living With Brain Tumours all-day seminar on Saturday October 27. Leading Health Professionals will present on topics including Overviews of Brain Tumours, How a Social Worker can Help; Neuropsychology Assessments, Post-Op issues for Carers, Issues for Brain Tumour Patients, Loved-ones, Children and Adolescents, along with displays from supporting Health Industries. Enquiries to judithwhitehead at cancerqld.org.au (substitute @ for at)…
 
The UK-based Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT) has really got behind the IBTA’s World Walk project. Jim Huggins, Adrian Clark, Tim Ives, Chris Higgins, and Paul Wilkin will be walking the North Downs Way between Oxted and Farnham on 21 October. They are raising funds for their friend Emma who has a brain tumour …Nora Ramalingum is holding a walk in Nonsuch Park, Surrey on 21 October and is raising funds for SDBTT Anne-Marie Ramalingum Fund … Morna Sinclair has organised a walk in Banchory, Aberdeen to take place on 26 October. Her daughter Hannah has had successful treatment for a brain tumour …Stan Ralph is holding a walk in Westhill Aberdeen on 27 October to raise funds for SDBTT Dennis Ralph Fund …Julie Rowland will be walking around her cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean during the Awareness Week. Funds raised will go towards SDBTT Julie Rowland Fund … Paul Glass is holding a public walk at Blackthorn Golf Course, Cottingham, Market Harborough and round the Welland Valley aka Hippo Walk. Paul is raising funds in memory of his partner Jodie Adams …
 
The Fifth Annual Mark Linder Walk 4 the Mind was held in Peoria, Illinois (USA), on Saturday 29 September with at least 400 walkers covering one mile each and donating 400 miles (644 kms) to the World Walk total. Funds raised will be donated to the American Brain Tumor Association …
 
Di Murphy from Australia has departed for China and the Great Wall to undertake her walk to add to the IBTA’s Walk Around the World target and to raise funds for BTA …

During 2-3 September, while on an away-day research team gathering in the Derbyshire countryside, 22 members of the (UK) Nottingham-based Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre walked 7 miles to contribute a total of 248 kms (154 miles) to the World Walk total …
 
Frances Tse from Hong Kong advises that they have changed the location for their awareness-raising walk on Saturday 27 October from the Hong Kong Trail to up and down The Peak which is a popular location on weekends. This will be a safer route if they attract the 100 people they are anticipating. There will be banners and posters along the way and the walkers will wear special tee-shirts. They will adjourn to a restaurant afterwards.  The local Schering-Plough representative is supporting the walk …
 
Dr Magda Machanova, radiation oncologist of the Regional Hospital in Liberec, Czech Republic, is hoping to place an article in a cancer journal in her country. Dr Machanova will also be holding a special brain tumour meeting at the local cancer organisation to mark the Awareness Week and hopes to obtain radio and other media exposure to raise awareness about brain tumours …
 
Dr Ira Pavlovic-Ruzic, radiation oncologist from Croatia, is also planning to hold an awareness raising activity in her country …
 
Don't forget to let us know as soon as possible about any Awareness Week activities you're planning.  Please donate any mileage from sponsored walks to the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours.  And finally, please DO spread the word about the Awareness Week and World Walk via your local newspapers, radio stations and television programmes.
 
Thank you for your continuing support.

Denis Strangman (Chair)

Kathy Oliver (Secretary)