THERE was a breakfast and brunch with a difference last week at the White Hart in Okehampton when supporters of the Cavitron Fund met to help raise money for the medical charity. The event, organised by local man Derek Godfrey-Brown and supported by the Okehampton Rotary Club, proved popular and many hundreds of pounds were expected to be raised for The Cavitron Fund, which provides relief and treatment of persons with brain or spinal tumours that are not normally provided by public funds. Mike Turner, the chief executive of the fund, told the Times that £240,000 was needed for the neurosurgery unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth to buy a CereTom, a light, mobile, high speed multi-slice CT scanner, which helps doctors to locate tumours, primarily for the head and neck. Mr Turner gave a talk at the event to explain the valuable work of the unit and why it was so important that the charity was supported to save lives. He said: 'This piece of equipment is absolutely vital. Many people who have brain tumours, head and spine injuries all would benefit from this scanner.' 'Okehampton and district has been one of our best areas in the South West in the past two years for fundraising and especially thanks to people such as Edna Hicks and Derek Godfrey-Brown.' Mr Godfrey-Brown said: 'The event has gone very well. Mike gave a talk which was very informative.This piece of equipment which we are raising money for is absolutely revolutionary and a massive step forward in technology.' The Cavitron Fund has already had great success in raising more than £500,000 to buy an m3, a radio surgery machine. Radio surgery means that patients with brain tumours can be given potentially life saving treatment at Derriford Hospital in just 20 minutes. Edna Hicks, the co-ordinator for the Cavitron Fund in Okehampton, lost her husband Rex three years ago from a brain tumour, but was grateful for the treatment offered by the specialist unit. She said: 'My husband Rex had a brain tumour and it was thanks to the Cavitron Fund and the marvellous unit at Derriford that instead of having two or three days to live it gave him 10 more months.' Edna said the time was invaluable as it enabled 19 members of his family, including the children, to prepare themselves for Rex's death and enjoy a memorable holiday in Cornwall together. l Among the contributions during the breakfast was a bumper cheque for more than £1,170, by workers at Meldon Quarry. They took part in a 14 mile bike ride from Okehampton railway station to Lydford Gorge.
