Give an extra gift this Christmas and help us to fund life-saving research for children affected by deadly brain tumours.

Our Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre is aiming to raise £50,000 during December to fund a clinical trial into a pioneering treatment that targets cancer cells but without some of the unwanted side effects that can lead to life-changing disabilities for children who survive brain tumours.

The centre is pioneering the use of a new intrathecal drug delivery system that injects chemotherapy drugs directly into the spinal fluid or brain. Administering the drugs in this way targets tumours more effectively at a fraction of the toxicity, reducing the chance of nasty side effects for the patient.

While significant work has been done pre-clinically, the research is at a critical stage and needs vital funds to allow it to move forward to begin recruiting patients for phase one clinical trials. The appeal will support the appointment of a clinical researcher to work on the study and the materials required for the next phase of the project.

Verity Oliver is mum to Connor who has been treated at the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 when he was just 11 years old.

She said: “I’ve watched my son deal with the effects of the chemo – the pain, the sickness, the stunted growth. I’m sure you will agree that’s more than any child should have to go through.

“This research gives me hope that one day my son could be able to live without the constant fear of having another tumour discovered. For me – and so many other mothers in my position – that would be the greatest Christmas gift of all.”

Donations to the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre’s Christmas Appeal can be made online at nott.ac.uk/childrenbtr or by calling +44 (0)115 951 3627.