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The Brain Charity has launched its first ever Christmas appeal. The 2020 campaign is seeking to raise £6,000 to support the one in six people that live with neurological conditions.
This year, coronavirus saw the national charity, which provides practical help, counselling and social activities for people with all forms of neurological condition, forced to cancel multiple fundraising events including its annual Snow Ball.
Over the same period, The Brain Charity faced a 70% surge in referrals to its services. This was due to the neurological complications caused by Covid-19, the increased mental health impact of social isolation caused by the pandemic and a bleak unemployment landscape.
More people with neurological conditions need the charity’s help than ever before. This December The Brain Charity is calling on the public to support its #Sixmas campaign.
The organisation is asking people from all over the UK to organise and participate in a sponsored – virtual or covid-safe – event themed around the number six, to highlight the fact one in six people has a neurological condition.
Events and activities might entail walking, running, rolling, cycling or otherwise travelling 600m, 6km, six miles, 16km, 60 miles or even 600km. You could take sponsorship for a six-hour sponsored silence, a six-day sporting challenge, a six season TV show marathon or even bouncing on a trampoline non-stop for six hours!
When the current national lockdown ends in December, if the rule of six is reinstated, fundraisers could choose to plan six-person bake sales, afternoon teas, gameathons, sponsored film nights and garage clear-outs. If not, they could meet as a group of six, 16, 60, 66 or more on Zoom for a virtual murder mystery, karaoke session, quiz or race night.
Tui Benjamin, head of communications and fundraising at The Brain Charity, said: “There are more than 600 different neurological conditions in existence, including stroke, brain injury, dementia and many much rarer ones too. We are the only charity in the UK to be here for every single one of them, as we have been for the last 26 years.
“2020 has been an unprecedented year for everyone; and, as has been the case for many charities, we’ve been unable to engage in public fundraising events and activities in the same way we usually would.
“But at the same time, demand for our services has rocketed like never before.
“One in six people have a neurological condition, and more than ever need the life-changing support we provide.
“That’s why, this December, we are calling on anyone affected by a neurological condition in some way – most people will know someone living with one – to support our #Sixmas appeal.”
Anyone who does not want to register as a #Sixmas fundraiser is invited to make a donation instead.
- £6 can reduce social isolation by paying for two people with neurological conditions to attend a coffee morning at The Brain Charity.
- £60 funds three members of The Brain Charity’s information and advice team to provide vital support about living with a condition to someone with a new diagnosis
- £600 enables The Brain Charity to be there for patients and their families as soon as they are diagnosed, by funding a hospital-based outreach worker and the vital wraparound support the charity provides alongside this for 12 hours
Supporters and fundraisers can shout about their donation or fundraising on social media using the hashtags #Sixmas, #ShareWithSix and #SupportingThe1in6 while nominating six friends to do the same.
Find out more about how to get fundraising or make a donation via The Brain Charity’s website.
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