The Brain Charity launches Christmas appeal to help those with neurological conditions

Liverpool based charity The Brain Charity has launched its first ever Christmas appeal to raise funds to support the one in six people who live with neurological conditions. 

The national charity, which provides practical help, counselling & social activities for people with all forms of neurological condition, has been forced to cancel multiple fundraising events this year - including its annual Snowball - due to coronavirus.

At the same time, 2020 has seen a 70% surge in referrals to the charity's services, 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. 

#Sixmas

As more people with neurological conditions need The Brain Charity's help more than ever, it is calling on the public this December to support its #Sixmas campaign.

The charity wants to raise £6,000 and is asking people from across the UK to organise and take part in a sponsored virtual or covid-safe activity event themed around the number six, to highlight the fact one in six people has a neurological condition.

This might be walking, running, rolling, cycling or travelling 600m, 6km, six miles, 16km, 60 miles or even 600km. It could include taking sponsorship for six-hour sponsored silences, six-day sporting challenges, six season TV show marathons or even just bouncing on a trampoline non-stop for six hours.  

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, like Clare and Christine, 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, like Sarah and Trina.
• £600 enables The Brain Charity to be there for patients like Ian 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 before nominating six friends to do the same. 

Useful links:

• Sign up as a fundraiser
• Make a donation
• Read more about #Sixmas
• Download images to share 
• See who The Brain Charity has helped
• Learn about what The Brain Charity does