Loop PR

Fundrsisers Dave Meekin and Mark Latimer triumphed at the notoriously torturous Hellrunner Trial recently – taking fundraising in aid of the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT) to a whole new energy sapping level.

Dave and Mark took on the ‘Hills of Hell’ and the ‘Bogs of Doom’ in the race which is trail running at its toughest.  The course took them through more than 11 miles of calf burning hills and energy sapping bogs. Through their brave and dedicated efforts Dave and Mark have raised £255 for the SDBTT (the biggest brain tumour charity in the UK).

Dave said, “The Hellrunner was incredibly tough but we both finished in good times and good spirits encouraged on by the crowds and the fundraising we had done for SDBTT!”

Paul Carbury, CEO of the charity, said: ‘We are so grateful to those people who take time out of their lives to raise funds for The Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust. Our fundraising efforts support vital research which helps the medical profession shape their understanding of this devastating and complex disease. In 2009, we funded a record £1m of research and our projects were responsible for announcing a range of significant breakthroughs. It’s thanks to the support we receive from the general public that we can continue to do this.”

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Notes to editors

About Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (SDBTT)

Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust is the leading adult and childhood brain tumour charity dedicated to research in the UK. The charity’s aim is to raise awareness, support and funds for brain tumour research to help fight this devastating disease and give hope to brain tumour patients in the future. It also offers support and information to patients and their carers.

The charity has been working to find a cure for brain tumours since it was set up in 1996 by Samantha’s parents, Neil and Angela Dickson.  Since then millions of pounds have been raised for brain tumour research and support services for patients and carers, and the charity has become the largest dedicated funder of brain tumour research in the UK.

More information on Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust is available by calling 0845 130 9733 or visiting www.braintumourtrust.co.uk

General Statistics

Out of the £420million spent on cancer research in the UK per year, less than 1% is spent on brain tumour research.

6,500 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour.

3,400 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.

Despite being the biggest childhood cancer killer and causing more deaths among the under 40s than any other cancer statistics show that brain cancer has received only a fraction of the funding of higher profile cancers. Statistics also show that high profile cancers have received up to 20 times the investment of brain cancer and have seen survival rates almost double in 30 years.

Often dubbed the ‘forgotten cancer’, the UK’s brain cancer survival rates have barely changed in 30 years whereas other cancer types have seen clear improvements.

Brain tumours cause the greatest reduction in life expectancy of any cancer - at over 20 years of life lost on average - and are the biggest killer of adults under 40.

People affected by brain tumours can suffer long-term adverse effects as a result of the tumour and treatment they receive – this adds 12,000 disabled life years in the UK each year.

SDBTT Statistics

Record year from 1^st April 2008 – 31^st March 2009

Record income of £1.3m for the year

Record research expenditure of £1m

Three major research breakthroughs:

University of Newcastle – our research team have pinpointed characteristics of medulloblastoma tumours that could help to determine the severity of an individual child’s cancer. A new project is now trialling a UK-wide system for testing tumour samples and will assess whether this could be used routinely to improve diagnosis and tailor treatment for individual patients.

Queen Mary University, London – our research team has made a major breakthrough with regard to the childhood brain tumour pilocytic astrocytoma. Research has identified certain genetic changes that are frequently found in these tumours, and which relate to a pathway that is likely to be involved in the development of the tumour.

National Hospital University College London – for the first time in the UK adult high grade brain tumour patients are having a chromosome test on their tumour samples. The test identifies approximately one in three patients whose tumour is far more reactive to chemotherapy

6,500 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour.

3,400 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.

Well hello again!

The UK’s first male grooming subscription service – Men Are Useless – has launched a new service to send toiletries to overseas forces through BFPO addresses.

Men Are Useless, which delivers a monthly, letter-boxed sized, high quality pack of toiletry products, will now send unbranded boxes to BFPO addresses and has offered to cover at least half of the postage costs itself.

Paul Johnson, Men Are Useless founder, said: “The idea behind Men Are Useless is very clear – we’re here to cover the boring, but important, bits of men’s lives. Soon after launch we were approached by forces families asking if we could send to BFPO addresses to give their serving partners a reminder of home.”

The company will cover the first £1.82 of postage and half of any extra postage charges.

Johnson adds: “In Europe our brand name signifies men’s lack of interest in going to the shops for toiletries. However, we’ll be dropping the name when sending to forces overseas and sending our boxes unbranded. Let’s face it, our guys overseas have more important things on their minds than toiletries but hopefully one of our grooming packs will be very welcome”

Packs start from £9.99 per month and contain everything from shower gel and shampoo through to razors and shave gel. Gift pack subscriptions are also available.

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Notes to Editors

· A 2007 report from the market research firm Mintel found that between 2002 and 2006 the male grooming market in the UK tripled in value to an estimated worth of £781m, and sales of men’s body lotions, body toning gels, depilatories and suncare products increased by 77% over the same period.

All media enquiries to Louise Evans at Loop PR, 07891 242476

The UK’s first male grooming subscription service looks set to rid men of one of their more irritating habits this Christmas – stealing their partner’s new toiletries.

Men Are Useless, which delivers a letter-boxed sized, high quality, monthly pack of products and can be offered as a gift subscription, found that over three quarters of men (78 per cent) admit to ‘bathroom theft’ across a range of, sometimes surprising, products.

The service, which surveyed hundreds of men across all age ranges, found they frequently run out of toiletries, with the highest proportion (38 per cent) admitting to stealing shampoo, ten per cent their partner’s razor and another seven per cent owning up to using their partner’s toothbrush.

Asked to name their most desperate bathroom moments, one in five admitted to washing all over with conditioner, with seven per cent saying they’ve resorted to using washing up liquid.

Paul Johnson, Men Are Useless founder, said: “The idea behind Men Are Useless is very clear – we’re here to cover the boring, but important, bits of men’s lives. Our innovative, monthly subscription scheme will help women deal with two problems this Christmas – firstly they’ll solve the age old dilemma of what to buy for the men in their lives and they’ll also get to protect their own new Christmas toiletries!”

Packs start from £9.99 per month (including delivery) and contain everything from shower gel and shampoo through to razors and shave gel.

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Notes to Editors

· More details of the service at www.menareuseless.com

· The survey questioned 400 men via Survey Monkey.

· A 2007 report from the market research firm Mintel found that between 2002 and 2006 the male grooming market in the UK tripled in value to an estimated worth of £781m, and sales of men’s body lotions, body toning gels, depilatories and suncare products increased by 77% over the same period.

All media enquiries to Louise Evans at Loop PR, 07891 242476

New stats revealed from UK’s first male grooming monthly box delivery scheme, Men Are Useless

78 per cent of men admit to stealing their partner’s toiletries in the bathroom, according to a new website service, menareuseless.com.

Launching this week, Men Are Useless is the UK’s first male grooming subscription service which delivers a letter-boxed sized, high quality, monthly toiletries pack designed to solve one of the more irritating male habits.

The service, which surveyed hundreds of men across all age ranges, found they frequently run out of their own toiletries, with the highest proportion (38 per cent) admitting to stealing shampoo, ten per cent their partner’s razor and another seven per cent owning up to using their partner’s toothbrush.

Asked to name their most desperate bathroom moments, one in five admitted washing all over with conditioner, with seven per cent saying they’ve resorted to using washing up liquid.

Paul Johnson, Men Are Useless founder, said: “The idea behind Men Are Useless is very clear – we’re here to cover the boring, but important, bits of men’s lives and we’re starting with the UK’s first monthly male toiletry delivery scheme. Let’s face it - men would rather be out there catching baddies or practicing wheelies than browsing the shopping aisles. Our service will bring relief to men and women alike – great brands brought together on a monthly basis either as a way of avoiding that last minute dash to the shops or as a gift for someone useless.”

Packs start from £9.99 per month (including delivery) and contain everything from shower gel and shampoo through to razors and shave gel.

Guy Jeremiah, entrepreneur and Chief Executive of Aquatina, has already joined up. He said: “I love taking care of my appearance but I just don’t have the time to consider which products I need and I never remember to keep the bathroom cabinet stocked up. I love the Men Are Useless idea – it just gives me one less thing to worry about and several less shops to visit.”

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Notes to Editors

· More details of the service at www.menareuseless.com

· The survey, conducted in June 2010, questioned 400 men via Survey Monkey.

· A 2007 report from the market research firm Mintel found that between 2002 and 2006 the male grooming market in the UK tripled in value to an estimated worth of £781m, and sales of men’s body lotions, body toning gels, depilatories and suncare products increased by 77% over the same period.

All media enquiries to Louise Evans at Loop PR, 07891 242476

Aquatina, the world’s first collapsible pocket bottle, sold out in just three days after going on sale at Howies flagship store on Carnaby Street on Monday. Howies were London’s first retailer of the bottle, initially dismissed as ‘impossible to make’ by design experts, and also the first shop to appear on Aquatina’s Find-a-Fountain map which shows Londoners where they can fill up their bottles for free.

“Aquatina is a perfect fit for Howies - its stylish and eco-friendly making it the perfect accessory for sale by the water fountains in our stores. We’re delighted to be London’s first retailer to stock it”
said Adrian Gunn, Commercial Director at Howies.

The first unique batch of Aquatina bottles costing under £5 each went on sale in Sheffield in June. Paul Iseard of The Famous Sheffield Shop on Ecclesall Road said “They’re really handy and light and the design is amazing. You can just put it in your bag and forget about it until you want to refill. We are delighted to have sold the first 400 Aquatina! We opened specially on a Sunday to sell them at the Sheffield Half Marathon which passed in front of our shop.”

The Aquatina pocket bottle has been devised to provide an environmentally-friendly and economical
alternative to disposables: a collapsible bottle that can be filled with water from a tap or fountain when needed. Each refillable half-litre bottle is made of food-safe plastic, and collapses to 30% of its size.

“It’s designed to fit into a pocket or handbag so that like your keys or mobile, you can always have it with you.’ Unlike many re-usable bottles, the Aquatina is free of BPA chemicals that have been implicated with a range of health problems.”
Said William Parsons, Wares Design MD and Aquatina designer

The creation of the Aquatina was initially dismissed as impossible by design experts, because of the problems inherent in blow-moulding technology. But following a year-long process, a patent pending design has been created by Wares Design and manufactured by William Becketts Plastics, both in Sheffield.

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Notes:
The average person in the Europe buys 85 bottles of mineral water a year, at a cost of over £100. A typical UK local authority disposes of up to 10 million bottles a year at great cost to tax payers. Last year, humans worldwide threw away 5,000 bottles a second - 150 billion bottles a year, enough to circle the world over a 1000 times or stretch to the moon and back 50 times. Watch the Aquatina movie on www.aquatina.net and view photos on the Aquatina Facebook page.