REPORT FROM The International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA)

The International Brain Tumour Alliance (www.theibta.org) is a global umbrella organisation of all charities dedicated to the welfare of people with brain tumours. The IBTA has declared 21st to 27th October, 2008 as "INTERNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOUR AWARENESS WEEK" and a lot of activities are being organised throughout the world.

The Brain Tumour Foundation of India (BTF; www.braintumourindia.com ) is one of the founding members of the IBTA and supporting the cause wholeheartedly. BTF has for the last 7 years done enormous work towards the treatment, rehabilitation and supporting thousands of patients with brain tumours and their families, from all over the country.

In this regard, we organised a "Brain Tumour Awareness" function at the Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai on 23rd October, 2007. This was attended by more than 100 patients, survivors and their families. The function started with an introduction by Dr Jalali, about the cause, the unique challenges faced by people with brain tumours, the new successes especially in childhood brain tumours and the amazing spirit and bravery exemplified during and after treatment by so many people with these tumours.
Several of our children gave stirring performances of song, poetry, dance and music including a soulful table recital by Sandesh Pawar, one of the children undergoing treatment at the moment.

One of the other highlights of the function was the release of the selected art work drawn from the recently organised "ART FESTIVAL" of the Brain Tumour Foundation (BTF). An office "Calendar", inspired by paintings drawn by children with brain tumours and beautifully designed by Diya Mohanty, a young charming lady, who recently concluded her treatment and her artist husband, was officially released by Dr KA Dinshaw, Director, Tata Memorial Centre. The calendar was titled '2008- a new year of hope and knowledge', an appropriate name for the cause.

Greeting card and donations collected from the sale of these art works and calendar will be dedicated to the welfare of people with CNS tumours and their families.

Several other professionals including neurosurgeons, oncologists, psychologists, volunteers and patient support groups attended the function and gave wonderful and useful insights into the need of awareness and the positivity with which we have to approach these problems to overcome them.

Dr Jalali later read out the encouraging message received from Denis Strangman, Chair and Kathy Oliver, secretary, IBTA to the audience.

All children and families were given a gift as a token of bravery and appreciation in their fight against this disease.

The function was widely covered by print media. Already, a lot of inquiries and interest has been generated and I have been inundated with calls for the last few days regarding various aspects of these tumours. Radio interviews done by some of our colleagues were also broadcast.

Finally, on behalf of all of us at the BTF, we would like to extend our gratitude to the IBTA for taking up this important cause. BTF also pledges solidarity and support to everyone throughout the world towards spreading the awareness message and wish great success.

Thank you.

Rakesh Jalali, M.D
Associate Professor, Consultant Radiation and NeuroOncologist and Incharge
Brain Tumour Foundation (BTF)
Email: btf@braintumourindia.com, rjalali@tmcmail.org
Website: www.braintumourindia.com
Brain Tumour Foundation,
122, Ground Floor
Tata Memorial Hospital
Parel, Mumbai - 400 012
Ph: (022) 24177159 / 24177153;
Fax: (022) 24146937

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