Choose Grey. Change Lives.
Throughout 2020 we have supported brainstrust, a charity that provides personalised 24/7 support from the point of diagnosis and build resources that help people with a brain tumour to become stronger. In supporting them we try to help to promote their campaigns and initiatives and it is time for their “Grey Initiative 2020. The press release below gives all the details and you can visits their website for more information. There are over 60,000 people in the UK living with a brain tumour. 30 more get diagnosed every day. From the most lethal brain tumour, a glioblastoma, to the long-term complications that come with a meningioma, every diagnosis changes someone’s life, and the lives of their loved ones. National charity, brainstrust, are calling on people to join their annual Wear Grey campaign which aims to give visibility to this invisible illness. “Each day I put on my brave face. I bury my fears, try to continue as ‘normal’. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an employee. I am surrounded by many, yet I feel so alone. I am lost” Georgia brainstrust’s Wear Grey initiative was first introduced back in 2012, and evolved as an annual campaign taking place every October. brainstrust Chief Executive, Will Jones, shares how it all began. “We wear grey thanks to Shaun Skinner, who approached brainstrust back in 2012 to help him bring an idea to life. ‘Go Grey for a day’ existed in the US, but Shaun had recognised a strong desire in the UK community to raise awareness of brain tumours, ‘the forgotten cancer’, this side of the Atlantic. It made sense to join the two events up, and with the US event in October, Wear Grey was born. Sadly, Shaun Skinner died from his brain tumour in January 2017, but along with his passion for helping others, Wear Grey is part of his incredible legacy.”
Brain tumours didn’t stop for Coronavirus, and neither did brainstrust. Eve Flynn, Communications Officer for brainstrust, tells us more: “30 people are still being diagnosed with a brain tumour every day. In a world that has been more isolating than ever, people have been alone when they find out they have this devastating illness. People with a brain tumour have suffered two-fold, and that’s why it is more important than ever that specialised, dedicated support is available for them and their loved ones. We’ve been working round-the-clock to keep our support going. We’re there for people when things are scariest, and we’ll be here every step of the way on their journey. Making sure they can have their best possible day, whatever that looks like for them. Through our coaching, workshops and resources, we are tackling isolation and building communities for people with a brain tumour.”
Aged 25, Nicola from London discovered she had a brain tumour following a seizure. “I met a friend for coffee and the next thing I knew I lost my speech and then blacked out, what I now know was a seizure. It all came as such a shock. I didn’t know much about brain tumours, I hadn’t had any headaches or migraines and then to discover I had a brain tumour was so traumatic.” The charity’s Community Fundraiser, Sophie, said “every day, we hear harrowing stories about personality change, debilitating fatigue, memory loss, fear between scans and the isolation people feel following such a devastating diagnosis. That’s why Wear Grey is so important, to give visibility to this invisible illness and raise vital funds to support people with a brain tumour.” To join brainstrust on their mission, follow three simple steps: BUY GREY – get yourself some Wear Grey merch, choosing from tees, beanies, face masks and more in the brainstrust online shop (https://shop.brainstrust.org.uk/) WEAR GREY – on 1st October, wear your grey gear proudly to show your support for the brain tumour community. SHARE GREY – share a photo of you in your grey gear with #weargrey and send a donation to help people with a brain tumour. For press information, please email Eve Flynn (Communications Officer) – eve@brainstrust.org.uk