Brainbow - the rehabilitation service for children and young people with brain tumours at Addenbrooke's Hospital - is celebrating its 10th anniversary and new NHS funding.
The service was founded in 2013 as a collaboration between Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) and three local charities: Anna's Hope, Camille's Appeal and Tom's Trust.
Later The Joshua Tarrant Trust took over from Camille's Appeal, and between them the charities have funded in excess of £3m, until the funding for Brainbow was fully adopted by the NHS in April.
The charities were founded in memory of children who tragically died from brain tumours, including Anna - who died 17 years ago at the age of three, and Tom, who died at the age of nine and was treated at Addenbrooke's.
Anna's Hope funds physiotherapy, speech and language and occupational therapy, while Tom's Trust funds Brainbow's clinical psychology team to support patients' and families' mental health.
Debs Mitchell, Tom's mum and co-founder of Tom's Trust, welcomed the NHS funding. She said: “Knowing these families will continue to get the mental health care they need through the NHS means we have the opportunity to extend our support in Tom’s memory."
READ MORE
- South Cambs district council to extend four-day week despite government backlash
- Royston residents call for better access to GPs and more local health provision
Denise Tarrant, co-founder of The Joshua Tarrant Trust, added: "To be given the opportunity to continue our son Joshua‘s legacy and support so many other children with brain tumours has made us all very proud."
To mark the anniversary today, speakers are giving talks at the Cancer Research UK Institute on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus on Brainbow's development and achievements.
Brainbow originator and paediatric oncologist Dr Amos Burke said: "This is an historic moment for the service which has benefited hundreds of young people and their families in so many different ways over the years.
"We are particularly indebted to those charities which have worked relentlessly throughout the years to raise funds and turn Brainbow into the incredible service it is today.
"We are very grateful to the NHS for funding which secures our future and means we can provide rehabilitation support so many more children who have had brain tumours reach their maximum potential."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here