It's our birthday!
We can't believe it has been a year since BT Buddies launched!
Firstly, to all who have lost someone dear to them this past year (and beyond) you continue to be in our thoughts. We hope that amongst the sadness you are able to find moments of joy as you remember some of the happier times you shared with your loved one.
We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know, if you or your loved one is currently battling a 
Brain Tumour, you can find information and support through the BT Buddies website and chat with people in similar situations in our forum. If you can't find what you are looking for on our site please
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and we'll do our best to help.
From March 1st 2009 to February 28th 2010, 20,500+ visitors have viewed 6,171 pages, over 100,000 times...here at BT Buddies we feel that our mission to provide a place for people needing up to date and accurate information on high grade brain tumours has been accomplished. However, we aren't going to stop here! Over the coming weeks and months you will see various changes to the BT Buddies website. All, we hope, will make visiting the website, connecting with others and sharing information a lot easier.
With this in mind we have created a page where you can leave a review of BT Buddies. We would love your feedback, all you need to do is CLICK HERE and write your review, by doing so you will help shape the future of BT Buddies.
An important step for us has been taken over the last few weeks, we have registered with the Charity Commission and hope to receive our registered charity number very soon. We are thrilled with all the support we have received and very grateful to everyone that has helped us get to this point. Whilst waiting for our registered charity number we have also applied to the HMRC and we are now able to claim Gift Aid on all applicable donations made to BT Buddies.
What have BT Buddies been up to the last 12 months?
In January 2009 BT Buddies asked photographers on DPChallenge.com to help complete a unique project in memory of Andrew's daughter, Rose.
Photographers were asked to shoot their idea of hope during March 2009, brain tumour awareness month (UK), and this inspirational book, 'With Hope in Our Hearts' is the result.
In his introduction for the book, Henry Friedman, Deputy Director of The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center wrote “This wonderful book produces images that will help anyone and their family battling a brain tumor and indeed any other medical or even non-medical challenge. I believe all readers will find this to be deeply moving book and an essential ingredient for their own personal quest for health and happiness.”
All Profits from the sale of this book will go to fund various BT Buddies projects.
Fundraisers - We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Becky and Cyril Haggar for all the work they are doing to raise funds for BT Buddies and to help others fighting brain tumours. In 2009, whilst Cyril was recovering from brain surgery for a Meningioma, the couple have raised over £1,000 for BT Buddies!
Along with the fundraising they have also worked closely with us to setup a brain tumour support group in their local area. Hillingdon Brain Tumour Support Groups meets on the last Thursday of every month and new members are always welcome! For further information on where the group is held or if you have any questions please
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
International Brain Tumour Awareness Week - In November 2009 BT Buddies helped raise awareness of brain tumours during IBTA week by having awareness displays in locations across the uk. We also sent out a press release, which saw 5 year brain tumour survivor, David Grant, on the front page of a Kent newspaper and various online news websites. You can read more about David and his brain tumour journey here.
2010 Fundraising and Awareness Events:
Click the image above for information on our unique 'Behind The Mask' exhibition.
Walk Around The Coast For Brain Tumours - From 1st March 2010 walking events are being held across the UK to raise awareness of brain tumours. The BT Buddies 'Walk Around the Coast' aims to walk a total of 5,581 miles which is the official distance around the coast of England.
We have a wide range of walking events for people of all fitness levels, the miles people walk at any of these events, or at events you organise yourselves will be added to our total and we hope to hit our 5,581 mile goal by 6th November 2010! Click here or click on the image on the right to find out more!
All miles walked for BT Buddies will be added to the IBTA's annual 'Walk Around the World' total.
TREADMILL-A-THONS
Between Monday 1st March 2010 and Saturday 6th November 2010 BT Buddies will be holding treadmill-a-thons across the UK. So far we have treadmills in Liverpool, Norwich, London, Manchester and Leeds and we hope to add a few more venues over the next few weeks!
For further information on our treadmill-a-thons or to book a slot please click here or click the image on the left.
Click on the following links for information on these events:
Wirral Coastal Walk - Sunday 23rd May 2010
Pedometer-a-thon - June 2010
Treasure Hunt on Foot - July 2010 (info coming soon!)
London Photography Walk - August 2010 (info coming soon!)
Dave's Bike Adventure - info coming soon!
Brain Tumour Awareness Displays
BT Buddies Projects launching in 2010:
Paediatric BT Buddies
We had hoped to be able to launch the new Paediatric BT Buddies website, for parents, loved ones, teachers and anyone in contact with a child with a brain tumour at the start of March 2010 but, unfortunately, this won't be possible.
Instead we have extended our deadline to 1st November 2010.
If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to the Paediatric BT Buddies website please
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and we'll get back to you asap.
Rose's Designs - as many of you know, Rose designed a collection of jewellery as part of her degree course. As a tribute to the hardwork she put in throughout her degree BT Buddies will be launching a selection of replica Jewellery with all proceeds going to BT Buddies. The funds raised through the sale of the jewellery will be used to fund projects like the Coping Better Together course, held in Liverpool by The Walton Centre, for newly diagnosed brain tumour patients, their families, carers and friends.
'I'm a BT Buddy' wristbands will be available through our eBay store in a few weeks time. They will be grey and say 'I'M A BT BUDDY!' on one side and btbuddies.org.uk on the other.
There will be more info on this coming soon so watch this space!
One of our biggest projects will be launched later this month but, unfortunately, we can't give you any more information just yet! Everyone at BT Buddies is looking forward to helping children across the UK with this special project. Watch this space (again) for information on the launch events!
2009 saw the rise of social networking and BT Buddies managed to keep up with the pace by starting a facebook fan page and twitter page. You can find each of these by clicking on the following buttons...
Today is also the start of Brain Tumour Awareness month here in the UK and we are encouraging all our supporters to place this badge on their facebook page, twitter page,blog, website and anywhere else you can think of! Send us a link to the page you place it on and we'll add you to our supporters list.
Well, I think we've written enough to keep you going for a while! If you have have any questions or would like further information on anything mentioned here please
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Once again, thank you to everyone that has made all we have achieved this past year possible, here's to the next 12 months and to hopefully helping more people affected by a brain tumour.
Your BT Buddies,
Natalya, Andrew and the BT Buddies team
