AN Ilminster mum-of-three living with a brain tumour is encouraging local people to take part in National Wear A Hat Day to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
Katie Galan-Wilkinson has raised nearly £6,000 for the charity since she was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour shortly before she gave birth to her third child in 2019.
Her fundraising events have included hosting a Captain Tom Moore-inspired event at Ilminster Recreation Ground and organising Walks of Hope through the town with her friend Natalie Wainwright.
Wear A Hat Day will take place on Friday, March 25, and the day is part of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which began yesterday (Tuesday, March 1).
Speaking about the importance of the event personally and for the charity, Katie said: “Any sort of funding and raising awareness helps me.
“It’s almost like a coping mechanism for dealing with the brain tumour diagnosis, uncertainty about the future, and the fact it’s so underfunded.
“I want to be involved in helping to fund better treatment or even a cure.”
Only around one per cent of national spending on cancer has been allocated to brain tumour research, despite the disease killing more people under 40 than any other cancer.
Grab your hats, #WearAHatDay is back on Friday 25th March 🎩 Join in the fun at home, in your community or at work or school and help to fund the fight against brain tumours. Sign up now and help us make Wear A Hat Day 2022 the biggest and hattiest yet ➡️ https://t.co/7a0cbK4c64 pic.twitter.com/6z6dnMUohY
— Brain Tumour Research (@braintumourrsch) January 5, 2022
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at four centres of excellence across the UK and campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more into researching brain tumours.
Brain Tumour Research describes Wear A Hat Day as a “nationally important fundraising and awareness event that people in the UK (and beyond!) support every year”.
Several of the charity's celebrity ambassadors, including Danny Clarke, Sarah Beeny, Dame Sheila Hancock and Caprice Bourret, will front this year's Wear A Hat Day.
There will also be special pin badges to mark the occassion and celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Katie said: “The idea behind it is to have fun.
“Schools and local businesses are encouraged to wear funny hats, and it’s about awareness-building.
“People can also put on cake sales or other fundraising events.
“This year, I’ve got help from a street food van, the Pancake Pod, which is kindly getting involved by setting up in the B&Q car park and making yummy pancakes and hot chocolates for people in exchange for donations.”
Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for Katie’s ongoing support.
“Since being diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour whilst she was heavily pregnant in 2019, Katie has worked with us to help raise awareness and she has fundraised almost £6,000 for the charity, which is just incredible.
“We thank her sincerely for helping us to get closer to finding a cure for all types of brain tumour and wish her all the best for a fun and successful Wear A Hat Day.”
To find out more about Wear A Hat Day, click HERE.
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