Neurological Foundaiton’s Annual Appeal Week

Published 30 June 2011, Posted in National

Sunday 3 July to Saturday 9 July

The Neurological Foundation’s Annual Appeal week launches on Sunday with the comical TV ad campaign featuring neuroscientists washing cars to raise money. The reality of the campaign’s message however is very real and very serious; funding for brain research is needed more than ever to improve the outcomes for the growing number of New Zealanders being diagnosed with neurological disorders.

The world’s population is ageing rapidly and with it the incidence of the more than 1100 known neurological disorders. In the not-too-distant future enormous resources will be required to adequately care for people afflicted with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and motor neurone diseases, stroke, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Currently, the treatment options for these disorders are extremely limited and cures do not yet exist. However, research carried out by New Zealand’s world-leading neuroscientists, and funded by the Neurological Foundation, has provided extraordinary insight into brain disease, illustrating the global significance of the dedicated work being carried out in this country. This work provides hope for the one in five New Zealanders who will experience a brain disorder in their lifetime. 

Without adequate investment in ongoing research many of these insights may never translate into clinical treatments, so Appeal week’s tongue-in-cheek spin on fundraising literally poses the question: “Imagine if neuroscientists really had to rely on car washes to fund brain research?” Every dollar donated during the Neurological Foundation’s appeal week helps to support brain research projects throughout the country; each year two grant rounds fund approximately 40 research projects into disorders covering the neurological spectrum. 

The Neurological Foundation is the primary non-government sponsor of neurological research and its funding has facilitated many of New Zealand’s top neuroscientists’ pioneering breakthroughs. Without the ongoing support of individual New Zealanders the Foundation could not commit to progressing research to the high level that it does. Ninety-eight per cent of funding comes from donations and bequests.

The Neurological Foundation’s Annual Appeal Week runs from Sunday 3 July to Saturday 9 July. Look out for the appeal envelope in your letterbox or at your local MITRE 10 or MITRE 10 MEGA store – you can also donate online at http://www.brain.org.nz