Brainy Bunch Announced As Island Roads Chosen Charity For 2025

Island Roads staff have chosen Wight Brainy Bunch as their chosen charity for 2025.

The Island-based charity provides emotional support and financial assistance for local families affected by brain tumours.
 
It was set up in 2015 by husband and wife Mark and Kathryn Grimes after Mark was diagnosed with a tumour. So far it has raised over £680,000 to support those affected.

The charity can provide financial assistance to families struggling with the inevitable added expenses that are so often incurred.

These include travel costs to the mainland for appointments and treatment, loss of earnings, specialist equipment to improve mobility, short breaks and memory-making experiences for those with a terminal diagnosis, counselling services, physio and cognitive therapy to aid rehabilitation, as well as any other services deemed beneficial for the patient/family.
 
The Wight Brainy Bunch continues to support The Brain Tumour Charity, to fund much-needed research, aid early diagnosis and improve care and quality of life for those living with a brain tumour.
 
It also helps fund Smile4Wessex, which supports The Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton where Mark Grimes underwent his craniotomy, and where the vast majority of Isle of Wight patients are treated following diagnosis of a brain tumour.
 
The news it had been chosen by Island Roads staff as their charity of the year was welcomed by The Wight Brainy Bunch.
 
Kathryn said:

“This is massive for The Wight Brainy Bunch…we were so pleased to be chosen as Island Roads’ charity of the year.”
 
Island Roads staff work hard throughout the year to support their chosen charity, organising a variety of events, including bake sales, quiz nights, raffles to raise money.

The Wight Brainy Bunch is the latest local charity to benefit. Past fundraising efforts have included those for Hampshire and IW Air Ambulance, Daisy Chains, Ability Dogs 4 Young People and Home Start IW.
 
Sarah Preston, a member of the Island Roads charity committee, said:

“Staff were really keen to support this very worthwhile charity, and will be organising a number of events to boost their funds.”