Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity

Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity began in 2003 as Andrea’s Gift, inspired by Andrea Key, who was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma and given just 12 months to live. Despite her illness, Andrea remained courageous and spirited, and her legacy lives on through a charity founded in her honour. In 2011, Andrea’s Gift became Brain Tumour Research and Support across Yorkshire (BTRS), later rebranded in 2020 as YBTC to reflect its growing regional impact. Over the years, YBTC has united with other local causes including Ellie’s Fund and Will’s Way, strengthening its reach and support.

YBTC offers specialised, local support to anyone in Yorkshire affected by a brain tumour. With around 15 new diagnoses each week in the region, their services are a vital lifeline. Support includes in-person peer groups, one-to-one help, wellbeing walks, welfare & benefits advice, and financial assistance – particularly for families with children undergoing treatment. By connecting people who truly understand, YBTC helps ease isolation and offers hope.

Brain tumour research receives just 1% of national cancer research funding, yet it’s the leading cause of cancer death among people under 40. YBTC is addressing this through strategic seed-funding (also called pump-priming) of new research to get it off the ground. This enables Yorkshire-based researchers, academics and clinicians to undertake proof-of-principle studies to facilitate the award of further funding. Without the charity’s initial support, many research breakthroughs could not have been achieved.