West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas joined sporting shoppers to take on a two-minute rowing challenge to raise awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Mr Thomas, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Brain Tumours, organised the charity event at Helston Sainsbury’s as part of Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day.
“Brain tumours remain the UK’s biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 and are devastating for patients and their families,” said Mr Thomas.
“In recent years, we have quite rightly focused attention on the diagnosis and treatment for sufferers and progress has been made but there is so much more to be done to understand the impact of a brain tumour both on the patient and their family.
“Events like this help to raise the profile of this neglected area of cancer treatment and I’d like to thank Millie Bird, from Millie’s Gym, who loaned a rowing machine for the day, and everyone else who supported the event, whether by coming along to the Rowing Challenge or by donating in one of the 20 or so shops in Helston, Penzance and St Ives which have collection boxes – these boxes are still available for donations for another fortnight or so.”
Competitors in the Rowing Challenge had to row as far as they could in two minutes – the overall men’s winner achieved 624 metres and for the ladies’ 515 metres.