As we come to the end of a year full of surprising outcomes globally, it is a relief that more locally at The National Brain Appeal, things have been going to plan. Our supporters came up trumps in a different way by raising £4m, enabling work to start on our new operating theatres at The National Hospital.

An appeal to raise £500k to double the size of the Molly Lane Fox Unit for brain tumour patients got off to an excellent start and we’ve raised more than half the amount already.

And another new exciting project focusing on providing a fantastic treatment to more stroke patients in Queen Square was launched. More information on all of these can be found on our website.

We have had some amazing fundraisers doing all sorts of things from staying in their pyjamas for two weeks to swimming and running round the Scilly Isles, but we are of course grateful for all the funds raised in more traditional ways too – from donations and direct debits to bake sales.

In busy lives and busy times we appreciate your support so much and we look forward to continuing to update you on the successful projects you make possible.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year.

If you've been in Queen Square recently, you can't have failed to notice that the hospital has been hidden behind scaffolding and hoardings. And while the £24m redevelopment of the hospital gathers pace behind the scenes, we've made great use of the blank hoardings outside.

The boards are now filled with details about the projects we fund, our super-supporters and the amazing clinicians that work in the square. Next time you are up at The National Hospital, do take a walk past and have a read!

The year closes with the wonderful news that UCL has been chosen as the central hub of new £250m national UK Dementia Research Institute. The new institute is being established as part of the government's 2020 Challenge on Dementia - to tackle one of the most devastating diseases of our time. It now affects more than 46m people worldwise.

In addition to the UCL hub, the new institute will include regional centres to build upon existing strengths in UK dementia research.

Trustee of The National Brain Appeal and Director of The Institute of Neurology, Prof Mike Hanna, is delighted at the news: “I want to congratulate all colleagues across Queen Square and UCL who have worked so hard to make this possible. The final hub for dementia research will be part of an iconic new building for neurological disease research at the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”

The National Brain Appeal office is now closed for Christmas - we reopen on Tuesday 3 January at 9am. See you in the new year!

For more events, personal stories and how you can get involved, please visit
www.nationalbrainappeal.org, or follow us @brainappeal and fb/TheNationalBrainAppeal

Theresa, Marcelle, Cara, Leigh, Brooke, Louise, Tina and Laura