Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: "Whatever the facts of the situation facing Ashya King's family, The Brain Tumour Charity knows, from its experience of working with families over many years, that separating a desperately ill child from their family has significant emotional and psychological consequences. It has a profound impact not only on the child, but on their brothers and sisters, their parents and wider family. "Forced separation will cause additional trauma for the family, who are already facing devastation from the diagnosis of the brain tumour, their young child undergoing major surgery and the possibility of gruelling treatments to come. For a five-year-old boy to be isolated from his parents in an unfamiliar hospital, in a country where he does not speak the language, appears fundamentally and morally unacceptable in these circumstances. "We understand the court case has been adjourned today, leaving the King family facing a further night of separation and uncertainty and no guarantee that a resolution will be found tomorrow. We implore the relevant authorities to work together to reunite them urgently and our thoughts remain with the King family at this time."
We are happy to provide spokespeople and case studies for any media outlet. Please contact Polly Newton, PR and Media Manager on 07990 828385 or polly.newton@thebraintumourcharity.org
About The Brain Tumour Charity
Registered Charity No. 1150054 (England and Wales) SC042096 (Scotland)
The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK's leading brain tumour charity, formed as a result of the merger of The Brain Tumour Charity (formerly Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust), Brain Tumour UK and The Joseph Foote Trust in March 2013. It is the only national charity that is fighting brain tumours on all fronts – investing in research, providing support and information and raising awareness. It adheres to national recognised accreditations and best practice guidelines for every area of its work.
The Brain Tumour Charity is the only brain tumour charity to fund research through a fair, open and transparent process of peer review and the only one to be a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities. As the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours, each year they invest £2.5million in world-class research covering both laboratory and clinical research in leading institutions across the UK. They are committed to significantly increase this in the future.
The Brain Tumour Charity offers a comprehensive support and information service for anyone who is affected, from a Support & Info Line and support groups to Information Standard accredited fact sheets and family days.
They fund and promote the UK-wide HeadSmart campaign, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in children and young people to make earlier diagnosis a reality. Earlier diagnosis will reduce long term disabilities and save lives. In just two years HeadSmart has reduced average diagnosis time from 9.1 weeks to 6.9 weeks.
Find out more at: www.thebraintumourcharity.org