Welcome to Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care – We transport cancer patients to and from hospital, free of charge.
Watch how the charity began and how schoolchildren from all over the region play a vital role in supporting their local charity.
Who are 'Daft as a Brush'?
The charity, Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care, specialise in transporting cancer patients to and from hospital for their Chemotherapy and / or Radiotherapy treatment, free of charge.
The service involves collecting and transporting patients in a safe and comfortable environment from where they are living to where they will be having their treatment. If required, a volunteer companion will stay with the patient during their Chemotherapy and / or Radiotherapy.
The patient is returned to their home in readiness for their next course of treatment. The charity completes thousands of cancer patient journeys each year with a passionate team of hundreds of volunteers and a large fleet of of ambulances. All donations received go directly to supporting cancer patients on their journey to recovery with Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.
Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care Charitable Trust was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2016.
Support our Great North Runners!!!
Every step they take, every donation that’s made, will bring comfort to cancer patients in need. Your generosity fuels our services, and ensures patients reach their treatment safely and with dignity. Let’s work together towards a future where no one faces cancer alone – one mile and one donation at a time. Together we can turn compassion into action and support people on their personal cancer journey!
To secure your place please contact Peter Stoten – email: Peter.Stoten@daftasabrush.org.uk or telephone 0191 2855 999. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Last Night of the Proms 2025
Following the enormous success of the 2024 event we are delighted to be able to confirm that the Daft as a Brush Last Night of the Proms will return to the Newcastle City Hall on Saturday 11th October 2025.
This spectacular evening celebrates and encapsulates the musical traditions of ‘Last Night of the Proms’, while embracing our own North-Eastern culture and heritage. A fusion of classical and contemporary themes, with timeless classics alongside versions of well-known standards specially arranged for the evening. All performed by a stunning orchestra and choir taking the audience on a musical journey which resonates with people of all ages.
We are proud to confirm the musical director, choir master and music arranger will all with us again this year along with our stunning soloists Charlotte and Michael and fantastic compere Ray. This unmissable experience promises an evening of unity, musical mastery and laughter.
So get ready to clap your hands, sing your heart out, wave your flag and enjoy a glorious night of entertainment. We look forward to seeing you in October 2025!
Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/3E006179ADF913BC
O2 City Hall
https://priority.o2.co.uk/tickets/673c81d7491e7078a4041390
In person from Daft as a Brush House, Great North Road, Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2DR
Or telephone 0191 2855999
Tickets range from £15 to £25 all profits from the event will contribute to the provision of free cancer patient transport across our region.
Thank you for supporting Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.
82 year old cancer patient takes on his greatest challenge to raise funds to purchase new cancer patient ambulances.
Newcastle yachtsman, David Scott Cowper, 82, was the first man to sail solo round the world in both directions.
Awarded Honorary Freedom of the City of Newcastle, Mr Cowper, who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, is now taking on a huge personal challenge; a return voyage through the Northwest Passage - the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, while emphasising the services of local charity Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care!
Highlighting the good work and the need for the Daft as a Brush charity, both David and charity boss Brian Burnie are hoping to raise funds for brand-new cancer patient ambulances at the country’s main cancer hubs in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and London as part of the charity’s goal to expand nationwide.
Can YOU help us rasie £100,000 for 3 new 'Daft as a Brush' Cancer Patient Ambulances?
What an exciting challenge - Click here to discover more!
No smartphone? Just tap / click here to go stright to PayPal, no account is needed!
Donate over the phone by calling 0191 28 55 999 - Please quote 'Polar Bound' when donating.
River Tyne Trail guide book 2nd edition!
Hurry! Now in stock!
River Tyne Trail, 2nd Edition. The trail traces the length of one of Britain’s greatest rivers, the Tyne. The walk covers both sources, the North and South Tynes, which are marked by giant stone monuments.
From tiny springs to streams and then vibrant rivers, the two sources eventually converge to create the powerful River Tyne as it journeys to the sea. The nature of the undulating terrain makes for a challenging and rewarding experience as the trail passes through some of Britain’s most beautiful and interesting scenery.
Every sale of this book helps the charity ‘Daft as a Brush’ provide free transport, to and from hospital, to thousands of patients going thought Chemotherapy and / or Radiotherapy treatment throughout the northeast of England.
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Just landed!
Available NOW! “Nostalgic Views of the North” This fabulous book featuring over a century of photographs, views, etchings and engravings of the North – Kindly donated by the author, John A. Moreels M.B.E. Every sale helps the charity. Only £10 including FREE P&P! Limited stocks.
This third collection features views of the North from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, created by the artistic talents of engravers and photographers. It highlights cities, towns and villages throughout the region and includes: Allendale, Alnwick, Bamburgh, Berwick, Blaydon, Brinkburn, Byland Abbey, Bywell Bay, Chillingham, Chollerford, County Durham, Cragside, Cullercoats, Durham City, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Harton, Harton Staithes, Haydon Bridge, Hendon, Hexham, Holy Island, Jesmond, Lambton Castle, Lindisfarne, Marsden, Middlesbrough, Morpeth, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Shields, Northumberland, Otterburn, Port Clarence, Raby Castle, Rievaulx, Seaburn, South Shields, St. Hilda's, St. Mary's Island, Stockton on Tees, Sunderland, Tynemouth, Wallsend, Wearmouth, Whitburn, Whitley Bay....And People at work and play.
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Statue to remember the 'Forgotten Army'
Support the Statue for all Far East Prisoners of War
To commemorate ALL FAR EAST PRISONERS OF WORLD WAR II, Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care founder, Mr Brian Burnie, is campaigning to create a statue of Len Gibson; Sunderland hero who endured years of brutal treatment on the Burma ‘Death’ Railway. The late Mr Len Gibson, BEM and Brian Burnie go back over twenty years when Brian was living at Doxford Hall, Northumberland and where he arranged for the 'largest fish and chip luncheon' for veterans.
Sign the petition by clicking here
Tune in to Daft as a Brush on Radio Tyneside!
Listen out for the Daft as a Brush show on Radio Tyneside!
A collection of our volunteers and patient's favourite songs will be played between 8:30am - 9:00am every Sunday!
Tune in at 93.6FM, or click this link https://www.radiotyneside.co.uk/
Transporting Cancer Patients is better for the individual and the hospital
We’ve been speaking to Dame Jackie Daniel, Chief Executive of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor Sir John Burn, Chairman, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Both agree transporting cancer patients to hospital is a real challenge for families, friends and the NHS. If patients are not in the right place at the right time, this can compromise the treatment system. Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care takes that stress away with a dedicated transport service. Click here to watch the interviews on our Real Life Stories page.
There's so much more to explore...
Daft as a Brush River Tyne Trail - From Source to Sea
Discover amazing trails from the scouces of the River Tyne.
The trail traces the length of one of Britain’s greatest rivers, the Tyne. The 130 mile walk covers both sources, the North and South Tynes, which are marked by giant stone monuments.
The stone at the North Tyne, near the England-Scotland border, was erected in October 2013 specially to mark the beginning of the trail. From tiny springs to streams and then vibrant rivers, the two sources eventually converge to create the powerful River Tyne as it journeys to the sea. The nature of the undulating terrain makes for a challenging and rewarding experience as the trail passes through some of Britain's most beautiful and interesting scenery.
Find out more and buy the Walking Guide by clicking here.
A Wearside Lad in World War II - By Len Gibson (B.E.M)
The extraordinary story of Len Gibson’s life as a prisoner of war in the Far East - Now only £8.99 FREE P&P!
‘Len Gibson: A Wearside Lad in World War II’ looks back on Len’s remarkable life as a Japanese prisoner of war, where he endured three and a half years of forced labour, near-starvation, disease and brutality.
Len has influenced and supported many people including music-royalty Dave Stewart co-founder of the ‘Euthymics’ and professional footballer Keith Adams who played for Sunderland and Australian Nationals. Currently living in Melbourne, Keith was an ex-pupil of Len’s at his former school where he was Deputy Head, Hasting Hill Primary School.
Cheques are accepted via post to Daft as a Brush House, Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 2DR. Purchase on-line via the link below. Please mark any letters ‘Len Gibson Book’ and include your return address details. Or, call in to see us! Our Reception is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday for card and cash payments.
(Books dispatch by post, allow 2-3 days, an extra day or two over public holidays.)
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