Missing Millions - Please copy and paste this template letter to send to your MP
This is possibly the most important campaigning update that I have sent out in all my years working with Brain Tumour Research.
It contains a call to action for every one of you who campaigns alongside us to improve options and outcomes for brain tumour patients through improved research funding.
After this week’s launch of the APPG on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) inquiry report, we can now confirm that there will be a general debate on Brain Tumour Research Funding within the main chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday 9th March with MPs requested to be in the chamber by 14:00.
What a chance we have to make our voice heard! But that voice will only be heard, and then amplified, if we can get as many MPs to speak in the chamber as possible.
That is why today - as a matter of urgency - we are asking you to contact your MP.
Here is a template of what to email to your MPs today.
Remember to Cc Hugh (hugh@braintumourresearch.org) and Sally (contact@blueskyethinking.org)
TEMPLATE
See below:
Subject: Chamber Debate on Brain Tumour Research Funding March 9th 14:00
Dear (Your MP’s name)
I am writing to you in the hope that you can speak and support the Brain Tumour Debate on Thursday 9th March at 14:00.
Our family are constituents in ( YOUR ADDRESS PLUS ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD SUCH AS:)
Our friends Sally and Andrew, lost their son Skye to radio-chemo neurotoxicity after receiving treatment for a brain tumour. He was five. Much of the treatment being carried out had not changed in 30 years! When we took further interest, it became clear why and we were shocked by what we discovered. Brain Tumours have received less than 1% of UK research funding into cancer and childhood brain tumours only receiving a small fraction of that 1%. This is despite brain tumours being the single biggest cause of childhood cancer deaths.
We also learned that sometime after Skye’s death, there was hope for the future, £40 million was pledged by Government over 5 years with the statement “The Government is committed to provide £40 million investment over five years for research into brain tumours as part of the Dame Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.” Five years have now passed and yet only a tiny fraction of that money has in fact been released to world class UK researchers. Thus, we are calling for that to be released and used as it was intended. We are lagging behind other countries and this is something I personally feel very disappointed about.
The APPG on Brain Tumours, chaired by Derek Thomas MP who has called for this debate, and request that you read the report ‘Pathway to a Cure - Breaking down the Barriers’ that was launched at Westminster on Tuesday 28th February.
Could I draw your particular attention to the report’s Executive Summary and the Key Recommendations which are;
• The Government should recognise brain tumour research as a critical priority, developing a strategic plan for adequately resourcing and funding discovery, translational and clinical research by 2024, ring-fencing £110 million of current and new funding to kick-start this initiative
• Government must ensure a robust tissue collection and storage infrastructure is in place across the country
• Government must do more to build research capacity
• Government should ensure equity of access to clinical trials and that the clinical trial database is robust and up to date
• Pharmaceutical companies are choosing not to pursue the development of brain cancer drugs in the UK. The Government should simplify the regulatory process and introduce tax reliefs and incentives for investors
• Funding bodies should ring-fence specific funding for research into childhood brain tumours.
Brain Tumour Research can provide a briefing document and more detail if you email them directly at hugh@braintumourresearch.org.
Please make time to read my story, to look at the recommendations and attend the debate on the 9th March to call for change and amplify the voice of brain tumour patients and their families.
Brain Tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and one in three people know someone affected by a brain tumour.
We can only hope to change this by investing in discovery science and by adopting the recommendations of the ‘Pathway to a Cure’ report.
I implore you to take part and if you cannot attend, make it a priority to fully understand what is discussed and where you can help.
Yours in hope
(Your Name)
(Your postal address and postcode)
If you don’t already have it - you can find your MP’s name and email address here:
https://members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
You can watch live here on Parliament TV: