46 Mile Overnight Walk for Charlotte's BAG

Charlotte’s BAG is one of the only UK charities focusing on raising funds for research into, and awareness of, glioblastoma multiforme. This very rare and currently nearly always terminal form of brain cancer can affect anyone of any age. However, the plasticity of the brain as it develops during adolescence means that enormous changes are taking place, making any treatment for glioblastoma even more challenging.

Brain cancer treatments have not progressed significantly since 1990, when temozolomide was first introduced. Brain cancer is significantly underfunded, with only ~1% of annual spending going towards research into cancers of the brain. This is one reason why there has been so little progress to date, unlike other cancers which have had massive investment and as a result seen survival rates increase dramatically.

Charlotte Eades died from glioblastoma in February 2016, just a week after her 19th birthday – but before her death Charlotte made a difference to thousands of other young cancer sufferers.

Why Charlotte’s BAG? BAG stands for Battle Against Glioblastoma, and Charlotte was a major handbag aficionado! We are committed to self-funding, meaning that EVERY penny raised goes towards research.

Where your money will go:

Charlotte's Lab is a research facility set up in Charlotte's name at King's College Hospital, London. The Charlotte’s BAG Team at King’s College Hospital are evaluating different approaches for mutation detection. This will be useful for monitoring patients after a diagnosis has been made. The Team are investigating a highly sensitive means of mutation detection which, it is hoped, will permit the detection of one molecule in 10,000-100,000. Such a means of detection enables oncologists to understand if surgery or therapy has been effective. Staff have been employed, consumables have been ordered and a company has been contacted for the acquisition of an instrument with which to carry out the research. The Team will use the research to assess further whether it is possible to classify tumours from cerebrospinal fluid without removing tumour tissue. As a member of the Team stated, though very early days, ‘this technology could be the future of brain tumour diagnostics.’