International Brain Tumour Awareness Week And The Walk Around The World For Brain Tumours

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 03 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

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Brain tumour advocates throughout the world have achieved their target of walking the equivalent of three times the distance around the Earth at the Equator.

The target was 120,000 kms and 28,618 walkers in over 100 separate walks in 15 different countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia, have so far reached a combined total of 123,024 kms with more results still to arrive.

The Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours is now an annual event. In 2007 the target was once around the Equator but the walkers that year covered nearly two and a half times the distance.

The World Walk is intended to raise awareness about the challenges of a brain tumour diagnosis and the need for more research and support. Approximately 200,000 people worldwide will develop a malignant primary brain tumour in the next twelve months. Well known people to be diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 included Senator Ted Kennedy (USA) and the golfer Seve Ballesteros (Spain).

The walk events raised at least $4.7m for local brain tumour research and support organisations. (No funds are sought or accepted by the IBTA from these events).

The World Walk concludes at the end of the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which was held during 26 October to 1 November. During the Awareness Week picnics, seminars and concerts were held, including a tour of Britain, Denmark and Sweden by US brain tumour survivor, singer and songwriter David M Bailey.

Scientists, clinicians, and brain tumour groups organised education meetings in India, Slovakia, Italy, Lithuania, Australia, the UK, Belgium and other locations.

The Chair of the International Brain Tumour Alliance Mr Denis Strangman, Australia, hailed the two main international projects as a success and said they would be repeated in 2009 with the Awareness Week most likely being held during 1-7 November when the focus would be on the 125 th anniversary of the first documented modern day brain tumour surgery by Sir Rickman Godlee which took place in London (UK). Sir Rickman later travelled to the USA where he met with US surgeons to talk about his pioneering operation.

Examples of events and walks held can be found on the IBTA website at: http://www.theibta.org

IBTA