With all the hype about charities and recessions, we think it’s time to put the record straight. 2008 was a brilliant year for brainstrust, and to achieve our goals, the campaigning and fundraising must continue.

The end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 has seen some magnificent efforts in a range of contexts from our supporters.

In total they’ve raised over £9,000!

• The White Horse at Ampfield has collected £1,500 for brainstrust and John and Gaye want to keep going for us in 2009. We are hoping to hold some events at this wonderful pub this year. Please pop by for a wonderful meal and pop some pennies in their pot! Thank you to John and Gaye for their ongoing support!

• Matthew (9) and James Ellacot (14) are very special brothers. They chose to freeze for brainstrust outside their local Sainsbury’s, and tried to keep warm by playing a cornet (Matthew) and a horn (James). This event raised a huge £1, 311.40!

• Becca Shackelford continues her fundraising by rallying the troops at her school, The Grammar School at Leeds, where in the space of 24hrs the students raised in excess of £600. Obviously a force with which to be reckoned!

• Another group of people who enjoy the cold for brainstrust are commmitted golfers. The March Hare Golf Society held a Charity Golf Day on 29 December, had a good round of cold golf, and raised £150 at the same time. Thank you!

• Stroud School has adopted brainstrust this year and its fundraising has got off to an excellent start, with over £2,000 raised already. I had the privilege of being invited to the School’s Charity Concert in December, which was just delightful and an excellent way to catch some Christmas spirit.

• And a big thank you to all our supporters who sent our Christmas Cards again this year. The two days we had at Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market raised £800 in sales; this is just the tip of the iceberg (yes, it was freezing there, too). The income isn’t finalised yet but it looks like we will break all records. Thank you to those who endured the cold with us!

• Another group who enjoy the cold must be the Brahm bikers. They powered through mud, rain and brown ale to raise over £1,000 for brainstrust.  Have a look to see what they did »

• Two other special boys are the Vallor brothers, Harrison (8) and Connor (9). They lost their grandmother to brain cancer and so were determined to raise funds for brainstrust. They both ran in the Great South Run - Harrison came 5th out of 800, Connor came in the top 30 for his age, and to top this they raised £262. Well done and thank you, boys!

• And whilst we are on the sporty theme, we have several people to thank for their endeavours - Matthew Haynes, Danny McGee and Paul Sutherland are just three, for running in Swindon and cycling in the Scottish Highlands. Thomas and Chris Carter rode in the Velo Vosges Challenge for brainstrust, a cause close to their hearts after their mother was diagnosed with a GBM 4.

• We have also gratefully received donations from the Olivers Battery Women’s Group, Michelmersh and Timsbury Horticultural Society, The Portsmouth and Southampton Mini Owners Club, and the Lancashire Constabulary Sports and Social Club,  which just shows geographical awareness of the brainstrust cause.

• Finally a big thank you to Kate, Jackie and Nerina for organising and hosting a Forever Living get together, and Amanda for hosting a Miglio party on behalf of brainstrust - aloe vera and jewellery; a great Christmas present mix!

Roll on 2009! We think it’s going to be a brilliant year and can’t wait to see what challenges our supporters think of next!