Media Information: for immediate release
8th March 2013
Local school girl is the face of national charity
fundraising campaign Wear A Hat Day 2013
Mia Billins, 10, of Emsworth and a pupil at Ditcham Park School in Petersfield,
is the face of UK charity Brain Tumour Research’s major awareness raising
campaign, Wear A Hat Day – the nation’s premier brain tumour awareness
event – which will be held on 28th March. Mia’s image can be seen on a wide
range of fundraising materials, as well as advertisements up and down the
country, including high profile posters in London Underground stations.
Although she is delighted at her new-found celebrity status – Mia’s friends tell
her: “You’ll be in Vogue next year!” – Mia’s fame has come at a price as she
lost her beloved Auntie Theresa Wadeson of Hamble to a brain tumour in
2011.
Mia’s mother, Michelle, who is Theresa’s sister said: “Theresa was only 37
years old when she passed away, eight years after she was diagnosed with a
brain tumour. People aren’t aware that brain tumours kill more children and
adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet less than one per cent
of national cancer research spending in the UK goes on brain tumours.
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
Page 1 of 6
“Statistically, not many people with brain cancer live beyond five years, so we
were lucky to have Theresa for eight - that’s why we are totally behind Brain
Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day and are encouraging local schools,
Brownies, Guides and other clubs and associations to support the event too,
including Mia’s Emsworth Guide pack, dance school and athletics club. Mia
loves her running and has completed the Race for Life a number of times, as
well as the Santa Run at Christmas and the Butser Hill Climb in Queen
Elizabeth Park, Waterlooville.
“Mia attends Ditcham Park School in Petersfield where they are holding a
special Easter-themed Wear A Hat Day on the last day of term with an Easter
egg hunt and an Easter competition. The Easter bunny will be coming too
and Brain Tumour Research hat badges will be available for a donation also,
so we really hope the school community raises a significant amount for this
very worthy cause.”
Brain Tumour Research’s annual Wear A Hat Day event has captured the
nation’s imagination for several years now, proving to be increasingly popular.
From schools, colleges and universities to shops, offices and clubs, Brain
Tumour Research is asking school children, students, workers, indeed
everyone, to get involved. With best hat and hat throwing competitions,
raffles, sponsored silences and passing the hat to collect donations, hundreds
of organisations and thousands of people around the country will be helping to
fund the fight against brain tumours.
Sue Farrington-Smith, Director of Brain Tumour Research, comments:
“Wear A Hat Day is a fun way of increasing awareness and getting people
raising money for an often overlooked form of cancer. We are extremely
grateful to Mia for being the face of Wear A Hat Day 2013 and to Ditcham
Park School for supporting the campaign. We hope they have a successful
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
Page 2 of 6
event and enjoy themselves as they join the nation in marking such an
important day.”
It’s not too late to join the fun of Wear A Hat Day. As well as donating a
pound or two to wear a hat for the day, it is easy for supporters to raise even
more money for Brain Tumour Research by selling the four Wear A Hat Day
badges designed by the charity for this event. With new designs each year,
these badges have become popular and collectable. This year’s designs
include a Mortarboard (as worn by academic students and staff), an Easter
Bonnet, a Builder’s Hard Hat and a Royal Crown — one to suit every taste.
The badges are available to order from the Brain Tumour Research charity as
part of its fundraising pack.
All the badges produced for Wear A Hat Day can be sold before, during and
after the event itself – a great way of keeping the fundraising going with
minimal effort!
Brain Tumour Research is also receiving the help of Rachel Trevor-Morgan, a
couture milliner based in St James, London, who has been making hats for
over 20 years. She is Milliner to Her Majesty, The Queen and is passionate
about her work. Her designs epitomise glamour and elegance, and attract
continuous press coverage, with her hats featured on the covers and in the
editorial pages of Vogue, Elle, Brides, the Daily Mail and The Sunday Times.
Rachel provided a hat design for Brain Tumour Research and the charity has
now fashioned a unique, limited edition brooch in support of Wear A Hat Day.
Rachel comments: “I am delighted to support Brain Tumour Research and
Wear A Hat Day. I am always trying to encourage people to wear more hats –
what a perfect way to raise awareness and make a statement for such an
important cause."
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
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The brooch is available now for a suggested donation of £10. Orders are
encouraged for what will be a fast-selling collector’s item!
Brain Tumour Research was launched in April 2009 to raise the awareness of
and funding for scientific research into brain tumours and improve outcomes
for brain tumour patients. It is the only national brain tumour charity in the UK
that is dedicated to granting 100 per cent of its funds to continuous and
sustainable scientific research.
In collaboration with its family of member charities, fundraising groups, and
supporters, Brain Tumour Research jointly raised over £2.5 million in 2012
and the charity now supports an annual £1 million programme of research into
brain tumours at a dedicated Centre of Excellence in the University of
Portsmouth. Indeed, the Brain Tumour Research charity has evolved to
become a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into
brain tumours in the UK. Funding for this research has been woefully
inadequate for far too long. By getting involved, you will be generating vital
funds to establish a new ‘Centre of Hope’ dedicated to research into brain
tumours in 2013 and helping research move another step closer to finding a
cure.
To get involved, request your fundraising pack, badges & badge boxes and
order your Rachel Trevor-Morgan brooch, please visit
www.braintumourresearch.org/wear-a-hat-day or contact Brain Tumour
Research directly via email: Sarah@braintumourresearch.org or phone:
01296 733011.
To view Wear A Hat Day and other awareness-raising videos on the charity’s
YouTube channel go to www.youtube.com/braintumourresearch
For further information about Brain Tumour Research go to
www.braintumourresearch.org
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
Page 4 of 6
For more information about Brain Tumour Research go to
www.braintumourresearch.org or to take part in Wear A Hat Day on 28th
March and raise funds for the charity go to
http://www.braintumourresearch.org/wear-a-hat-day
STOP PRESS: MIA HAS BEEN INVITED TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
NEXT TUESDAY, 12TH MARCH TO TELL HER STORY AND SHOW HER
SUPPORT FOR WEAR A HAT DAY
-ENDS-
For all media enquiries please contact Liz Fussey
Tel: 07811 068357
Email: liz@braintumourresearch.org
More information on Brain Tumour Research can be found at
www.braintumourresearch.org
or
contact Sue Farrington Smith
Tel: 01296 733011 or 07850 832301
Email sue@braintumourresearch.org
Notes to Editors
Brain Tumour Research comprises the following 21 member charities who have
united together under our banner: Ali’s Dream, Anna’s Hope, Astro Brain Tumour
Fund, Brain and Spine Foundation, Brain Tumour Research and Support across
Yorkshire, Brain Tumour Research Campaign, Brainstrust, Brainwaves, Charlie’s
Challenge, Children’s Brain Tumour Foundation, Children’s Brain Tumour Research
Centre, The Diana Ford Trust, Ellie Savage Memorial Trust, Ellie’s Fund, Headcase,
Katy Holmes Trust, Levi’s Star, The Lisa Wiles Red Wellies Brain Tumour Support
Fund, The PPR Foundation, Thorne Mason Trust and Trudy’s Trust.
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
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In addition, Brain Tumour Research has a fast growing band of fundraisers and
fundraising groups across the UK including: 4Aurora, Aaron’s Legacy of Hope,
Aladdin’s Lamp Fund, Alexandra’s Angels, Charlie’s Angels, The Dandy Trust, The
Diane Wright Trust, Erin’s Angel, Hazel’s Light, Head 1st, Lisa’s Gift, Maggie Harvey
Trust, The Mark “Bomber” Lancaster Trust, The Mark Cogan Foundation, MINE, The
Robin Menary Foundation, Sophie’s Wish, Taylan’s Project and Twelfth Man.
We also represent an ever-growing body of supporters across the UK who are all
committed to raising funds for our cause.
Brain Tumour Research
The Business Centre, Padbury Hill Farm, Padbury, Buckingham, Bucks MK18 2BN
Tel: 01296 733011 www.braintumourresearch.org
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