Page 15 - link magazine

Become Headsmart and wear a LittLe Foxes ChiLdCare

brain tumour bandana on 6 March & eduCation

FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS
Established 1986
The Common, Brinkworth, Wilts
Tel: 01666 510356
Just a 15 minute drive from West Swindon & Priory Vale on B4042
l An independent family run nursery offering quality care and education within a safe,
secure, stimulating environment for all babies and children from 0-5 and an out of
school club for children aged 5-11 years
l Open: Monday to Friday, 7.30am-6.30pm, 51 weeks of the year
l Full, part time and term time places. Government funding for
3-5 year olds
l High staff to child ratios with qualified and experienced teaching
staff and nursery nurses
l Nutritious 3 course meals, hydro pool, multi sensory room,
school hall with gym apparatus, secure gardens, mini bus for trips out and about

Joe with former England rugby captain Lewis Moody who visited
St Frances primary in May 2013 after he wrote a letter asking him to English, Mathematics and Science
take a PE class Fully qualified teachers
Accelerated GCSE programme
Joe Wilding and his family from diagnosis came out of the blue.
Haydon Wick will be donning “Joe was suffering unexplained 11+ training and preparation
bandanas on Friday 6 March to symptoms which we understood Free assessment and first lesson
support the Brain Tumour Charity to be gastric or migraine related,” Boost your child’s confidence
and the Headsmart Campaign, and said Niki. “We were referred to
they want readers to join them. Great Ormond Street Hospital for
After last month’s Link magazine children in London and a registrar
feature, we all know the symptoms suggested an MRI scan to look for Childcare
NEW
of meningitis, but do you know brain tumours. accepted
vouchers
about brain tumours? Children “We were taken aback, but the
have as much chance of living with Headsmart symptom card showed
a brain tumour as suffering from that Joe had one of the main
meningitis. Brain tumours are symptoms occurring at
the biggest killer of under least once a day. If
18’s. Support the we had it to hand
Had parents Niki and brain tumour charity we would have
Roy Wilding known Wear it Out campaign pushed for an MRI
this 10 years ago, they See details and a scan at one of the
may have insisted on video at: www.thebrain numerous hospital
receiving the essential tumourcharity.org appointments before
diagnostic test for Joe, 5 his fifth birthday.”
years earlier. In 2014, with Since diagnosis, Joe has
the help of family and friends, Niki had two brain stem debulking
raised £500 for the charities who attempts involving five hours
have been a great support during of surgery and 18 months of
Joe’s treatment. This year the aim chemotherapy.
is to raise awareness about the “The tumour has shrunk and is
symptoms of brain tumours across currently stable, yet slow growing,”
the community. said Niki. “We hope that the
“Early diagnosis not only saves symptoms remain at bay so that Joe
lives, but reduces the chance of can enjoy his last few months of
more long term disability,” said Niki. primary school and make the best
“We became aware of Headsmart of his time at senior school. He is
symptom cards a few years ago already saying he wants to be in the
and thanks to Mrs Farrell, the school rugby team.
headteacher at St Francis Primary “Once the symptoms return, we
School in Taw Hill, we were able to know that Joe will face at least
let about 1,000 parents know the one more surgery and then possible
symptoms of undiagnosed brain radio or proton therapy.
tumours. “In the meantime, we hope that
“Every child in school and Bandanas for Brain Tumours raises
every child who starts receives a lots of money to fund more research
symptom card. You can receive a into the over 200 sorts of brain
mobile phone guide - simply text tumours that exist - all of which
SMART to 81400.” need tailored treatment protocols.”
For Niki and Roy the brain tumour www.headsmart.org.uk
swindonlink.com n March 2015 15

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