A Charity Born From Heartbreak

Fighting Ependymoma is a Harrogate based charity founded in memory of Chris Bramhall, who passed away in January 2013 at the age of 21, after a 13 year battle with recurrent ependymoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Chris was first diagnosed at just eight years old. What followed was thirteen years of extraordinary courage. He endured surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and over forty tumours in his brain and spine. Yet through it all, Chris lived life fully. He earned four belts in Kung Fu, performed music in front of his school, travelled to Hollywood to find Bruce Lee's star on the Walk of Fame, and inspired everyone around him. He was even nominated for the Princess Diana Award for being an inspiration to his peers.

Chris was told at fifteen that his cancer could not be cured. For the next six years he tried every available treatment and carried on with his life with a dignity that left a lasting mark on all who knew him.

What Is Ependymoma?

Ependymoma is a form of cancer that arises from cells in the central nervous system. It can develop at any age and at different locations in the brain and along the spine, but the majority of cases are seen in children. It is the third most common paediatric brain cancer.

Brain tumours cause more mortality in children than any other type of cancer, and more years of life are lost to brain cancer than any other cancer type. Ependymoma is unusually resistant to chemotherapy, meaning treatment is primarily surgical, often combined with radiation. Around half of paediatric ependymoma patients will not survive beyond five years of their diagnosis.

Research into this type of cancer is chronically underfunded. It is left to charities like Fighting Ependymoma and specialist research labs to fill the gap that mainstream funding leaves behind.

The Work of Fighting Ependymoma

Fighting Ependymoma was set up by Sara Wilson and her team to raise awareness of ependymoma and fund the scientific research that could one day lead to a cure. The charity works with researchers under lead expert Dr Tim Ritzmann, Honorary Professor of Paediatric Oncology at The Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, supporting ongoing research into the biological mechanisms of the disease and potential new treatments.

The charity is run from Harrogate and is entirely focused on making sure that progress in understanding and treating ependymoma does not stall due to lack of funding. Every pound raised goes towards keeping that research moving forward.

How Bag2Charity Is Helping

Bag2Charity has been a proud partner of Fighting Ependymoma since October 2024. In that time, supporters across our collection areas have made 551 collections for the charity, donating a combined weight of nearly 2,776kg of clothing and household items.

Every kilogram of that goes towards generating funds for Fighting Ependymoma, supporting the research that Chris's family and Sara's team have dedicated themselves to advancing. It is a remarkable example of how a simple act, clearing out a wardrobe, can contribute to something with genuine scientific and human significance.

In Sara's Own Words

"We care about children fighting this terrible brain cancer and we know that you do too, so please continue to support us to improve treatments and better outcomes for them. Because as our motto says, we believe every child deserves a bright future. Thank you."

Sara Wilson, Founder, Fighting Ependymoma

How to Support Fighting Ependymoma Through Your Wardrobe Clear-Out

Supporting Fighting Ependymoma through Bag2Charity costs you nothing. Book a free doorstep collection, choose Fighting Ependymoma as your chosen charity, fill a bag with clothes and items you no longer need, and leave it outside on your collection date. Our team handles everything from there.

551 collections have already made a difference. Yours could be next. Book your free collection at bag2charity.co.uk and select Fighting Ependymoma.

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