Taylan’s Project receives Research Champion Award

We are thrilled to announce that Taylan’s Project was presented with the first ever Research Champion Award at the glittering Crystal Ball fundraising event, which was attended by over 200 guests and raised over £33,500.

Brain Tumour Research Chairman, Wendy Fulcher, and Patron, Ian Reddington, an actor of stage and screen and well-known for major roles in two popular TV soaps: Eastenders and Coronation Street, were on hand to present the Award.

Sue Farrington Smith, Director of Brain Tumour Research explains: “Our priority is finding a cure for this devastating disease and increasing survivorship, as well as the quality of life for those affected by brain tumours.  

“Our ethos has always been to raise awareness within the UK general public and grow the market for fundraising directed towards brain tumour research and support.  We believe in working together with other brain tumour charities and our own fundraising groups towards this goal and have introduced joint fundraising and awareness campaigns, such as Wear A Hat Day, which this year is on 28th March – so please get your organisation, school and clubs involved!”

Sue concludes: “We are tremendously indebted to Taylan’s Project and its many supporters for raising over £120,000 in three years.  They are truly deserving recipients of our first ever Research Champion Award, which we have introduced to recognise families, groups or organisations who have raised enough money to fund a scientist for a three-year time frame.” 

Taylan’s Project will be acknowledged in any scientific papers published as a result of the research findings by the scientist we are funding and our logo will be displayed in the laboratory.

Figen and Andy said "It is an honour for Taylan’s Project to be recognised in this way, but we are very aware that we have not achieved this level of fundraising on our own.  We are enormously grateful to each and every one of those who have stood by us over the last three years and continue to do so – we could not have got to this point on our own.  We really appreciate the effort and dedication which our family, friends and supporters have put in, including for some particularly difficult challenges which have entailed an incredible amount of training like, for example, climbing Kilimanjaro, kayaking the length of the Thames and taking on various long-distance cycling challenges.  This Research Champion Award is thanks to all you wonderful people."

Since its launch in 2009, Brain Tumour Research has evolved to become a leading voice calling for greater support and action to fund consistent and sustainable research into brain tumours in the UK.  Funding for brain tumour scientific research has been woefully inadequate for far too long.  The mission of the charity is clear – to raise £7 million a year to fund seven Research Centres of Excellence across the UK, each specialising in different aspects of the disease.

Brain Tumour Research has already established its first Centre in the University of Portsmouth in 2010, with an important expansion to the laboratory announced in November 2012.  It is also well into a stringent, open and transparent selection process of establishing its second and potentially third Centre in 2013 and has been overwhelmed by enthusiastic applications from 12 different research centres across the UK, all of whom, in recognition of their achievements and strategy, are very keen to become Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence.

Funding a team of scientists at a dedicated centre of excellence for brain tumour research is crucial to creating the critical mass that is so desperately needed to develop the knowledge to understand the causes and behaviours of tumours and improve treatments. 

Taylan’s Project is extremely proud to be part of Brain Tumour Research and will continue to help towards finding a cure, making sure Taylan’s legacy continues.