Appeal Week For Neurological Foundation
Sunday 29 June to Saturday 5 July
The Neurological Foundation’s Annual Appeal week runs from today, Sunday 29 June through to Saturday 5 July, with the
comical TV ad campaign featuring real neuroscientists washing cars to raise money for their research. The reality of the
campaign’s message however is 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 brain 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 undation, 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 be diagnosed with 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 world-class 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 29 June to Saturday 5 July. Look out for the appeal
envelope in your letterbox, in your newspaper or at your local MITRE 10 or MITRE 10 MEGA store – you can also donate
online at www.brain.org.nz
ends