On 12th April Harriet be running the Brighton Marathon. She will be raising money for an excellent Charity, John King Brain Tumour Foundation, and would love any donations you’re able to give.
Every year, over 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour. For many, the journey begins with uncertainty, fear, and the long wait for answers.
This year, money raised for the charity will go towards a number of different areas at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, including;
– Purchasing additional equipment and medical items for the recently purchased PromethION machine. Traditionally, tumour samples taken during surgery have to be sent away to pathology labs – a process that can take six to eight weeks. This waiting period is not only stressful but can also delay crucial treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which can affect outcomes. Thanks to the PromethION machine, patients at St George’s Hospital will be able to have their tumours genetically tested on-site, with results returned in as little as 90 minutes. Using nanopore sequencing, the machine reads DNA or RNA in real-time, enabling surgeons to understand the tumour’s genetic profile quickly. This rapid diagnosis will allow surgeons to make informed decisions during surgery at the time without any delays waiting for the biopsy results. It also means patients could get radiation treatment or chemotherapy, more quickly. The quicker diagnoses will reduce the anxiety patients feel while waiting for test results and help patients start life-saving treatments sooner.
The machine has been purchased for St George’s but we need additional equipment and medical items to make the technology operational.
– Renovating the family kitchen and playroom on the paediatric ward. The space is in dire need of repair, with much of the equipment and games missing or broken. The space is meant to offer distraction, comfort, and moments of normality to parents and families going through the unimaginable, but it has very little joy left in it.
Any donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated.
Visit Harriets Just Giving Page Here.
Thank you
Harriet x
