Our history

The Brainwave Appeal was established in 1988 to raise funds for the Regional Neurosciences Centre’s High Dependency Unit which cares for patients who are severally ill through head injury including following stroke and neurosurgery. Since its launch, the Brainwave Appeal has raised over £1,000,000 to create a modern monitoring environment for all of our patients from all over the North of England including Newcastle, Carlisle, Berwick, Darlington, Whitehaven and Kendal amongst other areas.

Our inspiration

Its inspiration and greatest benefactor is the appeal organiser Margaret Cowen, who decided to start to raise funds for the High Dependency Unit after her husband had been treated there. The appeal continues to raise funds for new research and the incorporation of these new techniques into clinical practice. In recent years, this has included assisting with the donation of a new CT scanner which was officially opened by Jonny Wilkinson in 2008, when he met Margaret and Ken Grey from the Newcastle Healthcare Charity, as two of the key contributors.

Our future

The Charity is continuing to raise funds for equipment in the Neuroritical Care Ward , the Neurosurgery wards (15  - 17), and the Neurotheatre environment at the RVI. Research is also being supported as well as Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation.

If you would like to raise funds in aid of the Northern Brainwave Appeal, or to find out more about its work, please get in touch with the Appeal Organiser at the following address: