Fundraisers’ lunch highlights the fight for a cure.
A Milton Keynes woman has hosted a fundraising lunch where guests wore a range of hats to help find a cure for brain tumours.
More than 30 people enjoyed the annual Wear A Hat Day lunch at Padbury Hill Farm, Buckingham and, dressed in spectacular headwear, raised more than £1,600 for brain tumour research.
The event was organised by charity trustee Sue Farrington Smith, who founded Brain Tumour Research 16 years ago after her niece, Alison Phelan, died from the disease when she was just seven.
Local MP Callum Anderson joined the lunch, prepared by Milton Keynes based Red Pepper Catering, along with Peter and Liz Realf, who lost their RAF pilot son, 26-year-old Stephen in 2014.
Simon Wilkinson, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers, spoke about the founding of the Luton hat industry and shared facts about the Feltmakers.
“Over the years, the event has grown, and the lunch is now a community of people, many of whom have their own brain tumour story,” said Sue. “Others are there because they want to support the cause. The room is always full of hope in raising awareness and donations to be invested in research into brain tumours, which will lead to a cure for this devastating disease.”
Sue retired as Brain Tumour Research Chief Executive in 2023 and has since raised more than £10,000 to help find kinder treatments and eventually a cure for all types of brain tumours.
“I’m passionate about finding a cure for the disease that took away our beloved Ali, my sister’s little girl, and inspired by all those families I have met along the way and continue to meet,” she added.
“Sue is a fundraising force,” said Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research. “There are more than 100 different types of brain tumour, making them notoriously difficult to find effective treatments for and the number of brain tumour diagnoses has increased by 11% in the last decade.
“With Sue’s unwavering support, she continues to remember her niece, Ali, which in turn is giving hope to future generations who face a brain tumour diagnosis.”
More details here: www.justgiving.com/page/sue-farrington-smith-1682453902610.
