Becky Griffin, long time friend and supporter of Nicole Witts and Head 1st! is a remarkable fundraiser and Nicole was present to support her latest event, held in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation, who grant wishes to seriously and terminally ill children and entertain over half a million children every year in hospitals and hospices [...]]]>  

Becky Griffin, long time friend and supporter of Nicole Witts and Head 1st! is a remarkable fundraiser and Nicole was present to support her latest event, held in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation, who grant wishes to seriously and terminally ill children and entertain over half a million children every year in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK. Just £50 can offer a day out and higher amounts reached help to ensure last wishes are made to come true. Becky herself has suffered three brain tumours and lost the sight in one eye, and, still in her teens, is still under treatment and determined to help others going through the same experiences.

Becky had set out to raise £450 from the evening, but overshot – and when the last money was counted, the amount raised had rocketed up to £720!

Nicole’s close friend Becky Griffin has had two brain tumours removed and is awaiting an operation on a third. As a tribute to the care and skill of the staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital, which has been home from home for Becky, she and Nicole are planning to abseil from [...]]]>

Nicole with Becky Griffin

Nicole’s close friend Becky Griffin has had two brain tumours removed and is awaiting an operation on a third. As a tribute to the care and skill of the staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital, which has been home from home for Becky, she and Nicole are planning to abseil from a high London building to raise funds and awareness.

Once the venue and date have been arranged, a Justgiving page will be set up so that supporters can pay their own tribute to Becky’s spirit, courage and fight and to the fantastic staff at Great Ormond Street. We’ll be posting full details here, so look out for them soon.

Local celebrities Darren Gough and Ian Reddington join ‘Heads’ of local organisations to raise awareness of brain tumours and Wear A Hat Day

Local groups Head 1st For Brain Tumours!, Ali’s Dream, Taylan’s Project and Brain Tumour Research are asking people to Wear a Hat on the [...]]]>

Nicole Witts modelling for Wear A Hat Day

Local celebrities Darren Gough and Ian Reddington join ‘Heads’ of local organisations to raise awareness of brain tumours and Wear A Hat Day

Local groups Head 1st For Brain Tumours!, Ali’s Dream, Taylan’s Project and Brain Tumour Research are asking people to Wear a Hat on the 30^th of March 2012 to help Brain Tumour Research and its member charities raise awareness about the prevalence of brain tumours and the need for vital research.

Local celebrities Darren Gough and Ian Reddington along with Jan Jones, the Head of Buckingham Primary School are setting an example by wearing bespoke hats created by ‘2010 Hat Maker of the Year’ Kate Langrish. Jonathan Whybrow the Head of Beachborough School, Richard Knowles, Chairman of Buckingham Colour Quest and Jason Sykes, Director of Boyd Coughlan Accountants are also supporting the campaign.

‘Wear a Hat Day’ is an annual awareness day which encourages people to make donations in order to wear a hat to school or college. This year Brain Tumour Research is also encouraging schools, businesses and organisations nationwide to challenge their ‘head’ to wear a hat for the day. From sponsored silences to charity runs and office bake-offs, organisations around the country are being encouraged to raise money in any which way they see fit to sponsor their ‘head’ to wear a hat.

Sue Farrington-Smith, Director of Brain Tumour Research and Trustee of Ali’s Dream, comments: “Brain Tumour Research receives less than 1% of national cancer research spending in the UK yet this deadly disease kills more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. ‘Wear a Hat Day’ is a fun way of increasing awareness and asking people to raise money for an often overlooked form of cancer and we are delighted that so many local organisations are getting involved and hope many more will join them”.

Brain Tumour Research has recruited the help of Kate Langrish, crowned ‘Hat Maker of the Year 2010’, to develop the official range of campaign hats. Instructions to make your own bespoke hat are available to download from the website, alongside another downloadable PDF which will allow you to create your own hat simply out of wrapping paper. This can be done as a classroom work shop or a break time activity and provides an interactive element for pupils and a team building element for staff, alongside them helping to raise funds for the charity. These interactive features allow everyone to access and support the campaign and both DIY hats are accompanied by an online instructions video.

Philip Treacy, celebrity hat designer and patron to the charity, comments:

“Fashion is a feeling and a mood and therefore how better to express your passion and commitment to a subject such as brain tumour research than by wearing a fantastic hat?  It immediately creates a statement and it doesn’t matter what the hat is or how much it costs; everybody who gets involved will feel a million dollars on the day, whilst also raising much needed research funds and awareness.”

Philip has also contributed to the campaign by providing an image of a hat that he has designed for an exclusive brooch that will be available as a limited edition. This brooch will be available for purchase through Brain Tumour Research, alongside this year’s wear a hat badges which will be launched for sale during March – brain tumour awareness month.  

Brain Tumour Research represents the united campaign voice of the Brain Tumour Research group of 18 charities. Launched in 2009, the charity was established specifically to raise funds for brain tumour research.

To get involved, request your fundraising packs, badges and balloons or for further background into Brain Tumour Research go to www.braintumourresearch.org

Please get involved in Wear A Hat Day 2012 and raise awareness and raise funds for brain tumour research.

Nicole Witts is throwing her support behind Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day on 30th March 2012 and would like you to join in!

All you need to do is ask people to wear a hat to [...]]]>

Please get involved in Wear A Hat Day 2012 and raise awareness and raise funds for brain tumour research.

Nicole Witts is throwing her support behind Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day on 30th March 2012 and would like you to join in!

All you need to do is ask people to wear a hat to work or school on 30 March 2012 in return for a donation. Don’t forget to wear one yourself! And why not:

• ask your child’s school to take part
• get your office or workmates to take part and wear their own hats
• ask your friends
• ask your friends to involve their offices and workplaces to get involved

You can also sell Brain Tumour Research’s delightful Wear A Hat Day character badges – see here for more details and to find out how to make your own hat to the instructions of top milliner Kate Langrish, “Hat Maker of the Year 2010″.

Famous hat designer Philip Treacy is a long-term patron of Brain Tumour Research and supporter of Wear A Hat Day and for 2012 Philip has designed an exclusive brooch – see here for details and to get yours.

For your full fundraising pack with everything you could possibly need to get your own Wear A Hat Day off to the best possible start, click here for details or phone Karen on 01296 733011 or email karen@braintumourresearch.org .

Thankyou!

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 [...]]]>

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.

Nicole with Joe of Pink Punters Party Bus

Everyone who came [...]]]> 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

Nicole on board the Party Bus!