International Brain Tumour Awareness Week 2023

28th October to 4th November 2023

What an amazing week of advocacy!

We have so much gratitude and admiration for the incredible efforts put forth by our community during the 2023 International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. To everyone who fundraised, donated, shared their story in the mainstream media, posted on social media, or simply talked about brain tumours to friends, family and work colleagues – thank you! You have all made a difference.

It was so inspiring and heartwarming to see us come together as a community with one common goal – raising awareness about brain tumours.

Everything starts with awareness. Without acknowledging that brain tumours are a problem, and how big the problem is, there is no way of attracting the funding for the research, new treatments and increased resources required to produce better outcomes for patients.

Fundraising

Seeing the Brain Tumour Support NZ logo emblazoned across the chests of our supporters at the Auckland Marathon left us with a great sense of pride. Katerina Hond and her friend Julia did the Half in support of Katerina’s mum who is battling a glioblastoma. A part-time pilates instructor, Katerina is continuing her fundraising by hosting pilates classes throughout November with all proceeds going to Brain Tumour Support NZ.

For sheer physical and mental effort it’s hard to go past Bryony Smith’s 6.5km run/walk in Tauranga. Just a little over four months ago, Bryony underwent brain surgery which left her unable to move her right arm and leg. After several months of intensive rehabilitation she built her fitness up to a level where she was able to smash her original target of a 5km run. She told her inspirational story to the NZ Herald.

We have several supporters attempting their debut full marathons this month. Marcus Johnstone and Noa Woolhoff are running the Queenstown Marathon in memory of Marcus’s mum, Susan Johnstone, who passed away from brain cancer two years ago. This is Marcus’s second time fundraising for us, having done the Auckland Half Marathon with his brother Shaun in 2021.

Guy Tancock is also running his debut marathon at the Queenstown Marathon, together with a team of family and friends. Each member of the team have experienced a loved one go through the challenge of a brain tumour diagnosis so they decided to do something about it by fundraising for Brain Tumour Support NZ. In his professional career, Guy is working to bring novel treatments to Australia and NZ to help people battle the disease.

Whakatane’s Brittney Litton is training the house down in preparation for the biggest bike ride of her life. Brittney has entered for the Lake Taupo Enduro Cycle Challenge – two laps of NZ’s largest lake, an imposing 320km in total. This gruelling ride takes on average 13 ½ hours to complete and includes a whopping 1650m vertical climbing.

Not all of the Awareness Week fundraisers involved physical challenges. Paula Cross, with support from friend and colleague Kate Watson, organised a bake sale in their Auckland office at Marsh McLennan. Hilary Bishop is busy making cards and fundraising for Brain Tumour Support NZ while she undergoes chemotherapy for a glioblastoma.

These collective fundraising efforts during International Brain Tumour Awareness Week have been nothing short of remarkable. The funds raised will be deployed directly into providing resources for brain tumour patients and their whānau, as well as supporting vital research and advocacy initiatives.

Are brain tumours on the increase?

Our Awareness Week media release contained some startling new statistics about brain tumours in Aotearoa New Zealand.

First, we highlighted a rise in annual brain cancer cases from 373 in 2020 to 413 in 2021, an increase of 11% year on year, and 20% above the ten-year average of 344 cases from 2011-2020. These are cases of primary, malignant brain tumours and does not include non-malignant tumours such as grade 1 meningiomas.

It remains to be seen whether the increase is part of a growing trend or just a statistical anomaly. It is unlikely to be due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a drop in new cancer registrations during much of 2020 when some cancer screening and diagnostic services were disrupted due to the lockdowns. There is no screening for brain tumours.

Second, we also reported that 33% of paediatric brain cancer cases (children aged 0 to 14 years) in Aotearoa occur in Māori children. This is higher than the proportion of Māori in the general population, but once again further research is required to determine whether the increased incidence can be explained by chance or whether there is some underlying cause.

We are grateful for the journalists and reporters who covered these stories in the mainstream media and for the people who bravely shared their stories. In particular, a special thanks to Alice Chambers Smith and Liesje Love for their heartfelt contributions.

Looking forward: sustaining momentum

As we reflect on the triumphs of the 2023 International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, let us carry this momentum forward. Our journey is ongoing, and with your continued support, we can make strides in research, support, and awareness throughout the year.

The team at Brain Tumour Support NZ feel incredibly honoured to be working with such a wonderful community, and together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of those affected by brain tumours.

Click on the image to view media coverage