Dons play keepy uppy to battle against brain tumours

A Milton Keynes-based charity has teamed up with MK Dons to launch a football-themed challenge to help find a cure for brain tumours.

As the world’s best players prepare for the World Cup in Qatar, supporters at home are being invited to celebrate the beautiful game by taking part in the One Million Keepy Uppy Challenge for Brain Tumour Research.

MK Dons have kicked off by encouraging residents and supporters to complete a cup-worthy 10,000 keepy-uppies towards the one million target – the number is symbolic as it costs £1 million to fund a Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence for a year.

The aim is to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds through sponsorship which will allow scientists at the centres to continue their vital work to help find a cure and find new treatment options for patients.

Charity spokesman Hugh Adams said: “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

“One person in three knows someone affected by a brain tumour. An estimated three million tickets will be sold for this year’s World Cup so that means more than one million fans attending will know the pain caused by this devastating disease.”

Katie Jefcut, from Oldbrook, knows only too well the implications of a brain tumour diagnosis. Her son, Jude, is currently going through treatment. He was diagnosed with a high-grade form of the disease following a visit to the optician on his eighth birthday in March 2020.

Ten-year-old Jude spent a morning at Stadium MK meeting first-team players.

Katie said: “Jude had an amazing day at MK Dons and loved meeting the players and receiving a football shirt, which the players signed in front of him. It made him smile a lot, which is lovely because his smiles are quite rare these days.”

Sadly, there are no further treatment options available in the UK for Jude. Like many families facing this impossible situation, his family is crowdfunding for treatment abroad, which they believe is their only option.

Katie added: “We are in an impossible situation. Without investment in research to find out more about brain tumours, there will be no hope for patients like Jude. We really need lots of people to get involved in this challenge for Brain Tumour Research to help spread the word and to raise vital funds.”

A spokesman for the club said: “It is extremely moving to hear the stories of brain tumour patients and shocking to learn the statistics around this disease. We are really proud to be supporting Brain Tumour Research and hope, along with them, to give brain tumours the red card.”

More information about the challenge can be found at www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/keepy-uppy-challenge #OneMillionKeepyUppyChallenge.

Not only will participants gain a sense of pride from knowing they are helping a worthy cause, they will receive a special tournament medal if they raise more than £10, be entered into a sweepstake to win footie themed prizes, receive a World Cup match planner and a tracker to keep score of their keepy uppies.

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 the driving force behind the call 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.