More than 70 employees at Vistra’s UK and Jersey offices participated in the national brain tumour awareness campaign, which has raised more than £1.25 million since it was launched 11 years ago. Hundreds of individuals from organisations across the UK and Jersey have done their hats to help fund the fight against brain tumours.

With many of its employees working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vistra team were determined not to let the virus impact their fundraising efforts. They posted selfies online with their creative and wacky hats on, encouraging people to donate to Brain Tumour Research.

Derek Kemp, regional managing director at Vistra, said: “We were delighted to participate in Wear A Hat Day. Not only was it a fantastic event to raise awareness of brain tumours, it uplifted employee spirit and spread much-needed positivity amid the current coronavirus outbreak. We hope that the funds raised will help Brain Tumour Research continue their invaluable efforts.

The Vistra teams were inspired to fundraise as two colleagues have been diagnosed with brain tumours. Many others who work at Vistra know family or friends affected by the disease.

“When our colleagues learned about the Wear a Hat Day initiative, they were very keen to take part. The fight against brain tumours is an issue very close to our hearts. Several colleagues have been personally affected or know of friends or family members that have been impacted by this disease,” said Anna Avery, Marketing Executive of Vistra UK, who has been the organiser of the event within Vistra.

“We wanted to take an active part in raising awareness and we are proud to be supporting this important cause”

Mel Tiley, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research in the South West, said: “We are extremely grateful to Vistra for supporting Brain Tumour Research and Wear A Hat Day during these difficult times.”

“It is heart-warming to see the lengths people have gone to in order to change their fundraising plans and maintain their support for our vital work in raising awareness of brain tumours and funding research to help find a cure.”

“These are uncertain times for us all and the charity sector has already been badly hit. Brain Tumour Research is looking at a potential 50% loss in annual income over the next three months and this equates to £2 million. The coronavirus pandemic has meant a massive financial hit for us and could mean that charity funded research into brain tumours will stop and the vital progress we have made so far will be lost.”

“This pandemic demonstrates to us all the importance of science and we now need people’s support more than ever before.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs. For information on how to support the charity please go to www.braintumourresearch.org.