The National Brain Appeal Newsletter April 2019 No Images? Click here Making Light WorkIf you've received The National this week through your door or to your inbox, you will see that our art fundraiser is returning for the sixth year, with the theme of ‘Making Light Work’. Do you enjoy painting, drawing, making prints or simply just getting creative? We would love you to take part! This is your chance to exhibit alongside well-known artists, illustrators, designers and architects. If you know anyone who is artistic and may like to take part, please share this with them – the more, the merrier! Using a simple envelope as your starting point, the idea is to produce an artwork on the theme. These will be exhibited at gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, in London from 26-29 September 2019. Each piece will be priced identically at £85 and sold anonymously, with all proceeds from the exhibition going to Queen Square. For full details about how to take part, click the 'Register' button below or head to our website. The deadline for entries is 28 June 2019. Neil Kitchen's challengeNational Hospital neurosurgeon Neil Kitchen is running the Virgin Money London Marathon in less than two weeks! He wants to raise money for our Neurosurgery fund which provides state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the UK's largest neurosurgery unit here in Queen Square. "I want to thank everyone who has supported me in the past," says Neil. "And to those who have donated this time too. The National Brain Appeal really does make a vital difference to the care of our patients." He would be extremely grateful for any donations, no matter how large or small! If you would like to show your support, please click on the link below. #UseYourBrainHave you spotted the social media campaign, #UseYourBrain? Supporters Alex Waterman (daughter of The Sun's fitness guru, Nicki Waterman) and her friend Hayley Costa both sadly lost their mums to brain cancer. They have come up with a great campaign to raise money for a groundbreaking new immunotherapy trial to treat brain cancer. They have persuaded lots of celebrities to get involved and donate. These include Heart DJs, Jamie Theakston and Lucy Horobin, singer Natalie Appleton, musicians Tom Fletcher and Matt Willis and actress Tamsin Outhwaite, plus Jools Oliver and Gethin Jones (above, pictured with Hayley). Have a look at our Instagram feed for more selfies! Alex and Hayley want you use your brain to do a kind act, post a thumbs-up selfie on social media, and text 'Nicki 5' to 70085 which donates £5. We'd love to see our channels flooded with your photos! History of helpThe Ladies' Samaritan Society is a charity that was set up in 1861 to bring to public awareness the state of the sick and poor at The National Hospital. Based within the hospital, this group of influential ladies, headed up by the sisters who founded the hospital, Johanna and Louisa Chandler (above), wanted to help with patients' needs. Its aim is still the same – to provide help for patients and their families by making grants towards essential equipment for use at home, contributions towards
holiday and respite care, and help with travel and accommodation expenses. Sometimes small items of equipment for hospital departments can be provided, when this cannot be funded by the NHS. Grants range from £50 to £500 and applications must be made by clinical staff at The National Hospital on behalf of a patient. We wish all our supporters a happy Easter!For more events, personal stories and how you can get involved, please visit |