BRAIN TUMOUR RESEARCH CHARITY RECEIVES £1,000 DONATION FROM LEADING NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DEVELOPER

A charity which is dedicated to funding research into brain tumours has received a £1,000 donation from housebuilder, David Wilson Homes.

DWSM – The trustees of The Oli Hilsdon Foundation
DWSM – The trustees of The Oli Hilsdon Foundation

The Oli Hilsdon Foundation was formed in loving memory of 26 year old Oli Hilsdon who lost his battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a lethal and aggressive brain tumour, in January 2019.

The funding will support the charity’s hard work to fund a research project at University College London through The Brain Tumour Charity that accelerates a future with a cure for brain cancer.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer yet receive just 3% of the national spend on cancer research. 75% of those diagnosed with a Glioblastoma will not survive one year.

At the current rate of funding, it could take 100 years for brain cancer to catch up with developments in other diseases. Increased investment into brain tumour research is desperately needed, and this is what the Foundation is addressing.

The Oli Hilsdon Foundation said: “We rely 100% on voluntary donations and are immensely grateful to receive such a kind and generous donation from David Wilson Homes.

“In loving memory of our Oli, we are raising awareness and funding for pioneering research that advances the goal of extending and ultimately saving the lives of those diagnosed with a Glioblastoma.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we adapted our fundraising events from in-person to online. We have been very grateful to our wonderful community for their support during this challenging year, with many of our incredible supporters taking on virtual challenges.

“We would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to David Wilson Homes for their generosity and fantastic support. We thank them for investing in a future with a cure for brain cancer, forever for our adored Oli.”

Despite the Covid-19 challenges, the research team at University College London made significant and steady progress in laying the groundwork for Year 2 of the project, that will enable them to characterise the molecular make-up of Glioblastoma spread throughout the brain and identify potential new targets for blocking brain tumour relapse.

John Dillon, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support The Oli Hilsdon Foundation and the fantastic work they are doing.

“The team at the charity are doing an outstanding job raising awareness and funding towards brain tumour research, and we thank them for working hard to create a cure for brain cancer.”