There’s only one way to break the logjam in funding research into brain tumours. That’s to make people aware of just how bad brain tumours are, and how little is being spent on research about it. But getting that information in front of people is hard. A letter to The Times reaches only 1 in 600 of the population and gets forgotten within minutes. That’s why Nicole has concentrated so hard on getting her story into the big-hitting outlets – the top-selling newspapers, radio, and television. Taking the facts to where the audience actually is. Waking people up to what’s going on. Reminding people that they’re not alone. Getting people together to work for the future when brain tumours are easily, successfully treated.
The last couple of years has seen the arrival of a whole new kind of magazine. Low in price, approachable, packed with stories, health tips, puzzles and jokes, all aimed at giving hard-working people some minutes away from it all in a lunch or tea break or commuting. These magazines are selling well where other titles are falling away, so it was essential to get the brain tumour story into one of them as soon as possible. They can be hard to “break”, so Nicole’s story in Real People on 10th November was all the more important.
Real People did a good job of it, allowing Nicole to dictate the way the story was told and presented, and giving the vital web link to Brain Tumour Research enabling readers affected by tumours to find out more, get in touch and get involved. Click the image below to read Nicole’s Real People article in full.
Nicole with Glenn Pollard at fundraising birthday bash 1 October 2011
Congratulations to everyone who attended Nicole Witts’ fundraising birthday party in Leighton Buzzard on 1st October. Well over £1000 was raised on the night and through subsequent donations. The bulk of the money given will support Nicole’s efforts to fund research into brain tumours in cooperation with Brain Tumour Research UK, but large sums also go to support patients with breast cancer and charities working with people who have suffered head injuries.
The whole night was a great success and a chance for old friends to get back together and reflect how far down the road we have all come in our fight against brain tumours. And it was a chance to make new friends – volunteers, fundraisers and supporters of every kind who took the chance to put faces to the names.
Huge thanks and congratulations go out to Penn Road residents, everyone at Pink Punters Disco Bus, and everyone at Billy’s More Than a Burger unit who got together to mark the end of summer by raising a record for a Nicole Witts/Head1st! outdoor event: £1106.18!
Nicole with Joe of Pink Punters Party Bus
Everyone who came enjoyed a fantastic night out, and Nicole was glad to welcome local Councillor Nick Klein and his wife who were there to lend their support.
Nicole with Councillor Nick Klein and his wife
Generous Penn Road residents were out in force to raise funds for research into brain tumours
August 2011 has proved to be yet another “extra” brain tumours awareness month for Nicole Witts and Head 1st! for Brain Tumours! Famous high-circulation magazine Woman heard Nicole’s story, and were so impressed that they brought their photographers and gave it a magnificent double spread in the 22nd August 2011 issue. Publication marks the achievement of yet another of Nicole’s bucket list goals, and brings us ever closer to that tipping point in public awareness that is so vital to finding a cure.
Congratulations to everyone at Woodhall Spa and District Ladies Circle, whose fundraising evening raised £160 for brain tumour research! Every penny of that will go straight into funding the research that will produce the cures that will finally beat this terrible set of cancers.
Nicole Witts took the Leighton Buzzard Observer to meet the Circlers and to be presented with the cheque. Nicki Lee from Woodhall Spa said:
Nicole and I were work colleagues and remain great friends. Nicole slowly became quite forgetful and blamed it on being a new mum and the change in lifestyle from a busy career to being at home with a young family. The news of her brain tumour was a shock, but her strength and spirit has inspired many to help in any small way to raise awareness of brain tumours. As Nicole and I met working as beauty therapists in a health spa, it seemed fitting to organize a pampering evening to raise some funds and awareness for this awful illness.
Woodhall Spa and District Ladies Circle is part of a nationwide organization that promotes fundraising and friendship for young women. For more details about Woodhall Spa and District Ladies Circle email woodhallcircle@btinternet.com
A big thanks to Marion Dye and everyone at Linslade Bowls Club whose special event on 30th July 2011 raised £335. Congratulations to all for such a fantastic result – we’ll make sure it’s well used to help make sure that people in the future do not have to live with the consequences of brain tumours. It’s a long fight that we have ahead of us, but the work of people like Marion and the Club are what will win it for us in the end. Thank you!
As part of her efforts for Wear A Hat Day and Brain Tumours Awareness Month, Nicole Witts took her story to the BBC in March for the first time. Here is what she told them:
The video is dedicated to our fantastic patron, inspiration and friend, Andrew Selous MP, with love and gratitude.
Nicole featured alongside celebrity milliner Philip Treacy in the well known Female First glossy, marking her contributions to Wear A Hat Day and Brain Tumours Awareness Month. Read the full article here.
Linda Janes and colleagues from Milton Keynes College get into the spirit on Wear A Hat Day
Everyone at Head 1st For Brain Tumours would like to send a special thank you to a great friend and special supporter, Linda Janes. Linda has been a tower of strength over the last two years, and has raised money for us at every opportunity, both at work and as a part of her Partylite events.
Linda Janes' Partylite and Brain Tumour Research fundraising together
It’s precisely the work, enthusiasm and support of people like Linda that means we will, eventually, beat brain tumours once and for all. It’s because of people like Linda that while we work on that, we will make the lives of patients and their families easier and their treatments better.
