Hammer Out was started in March 2002 as a small fundraising group to raise awareness of brain tumours and the needs of those affected by them as well as raising money for brain and cancer related charities.

The original aim of raising £20,000 has been exceeded and £10,000 each has been donated to Macmillan Cancer Relief and the UK Brain Tumour Society.

The name “Hammer Out” was created out of Paul’s avid support of his football team West Ham ‘The Hammers’ United - hence the claret and blue theme.

Hammer Out is now being launched as a registered charity.  While continuing to support the original aims, this will also give Hammer Out the opportunity to raise funds for very specific purposes.  One such project is to establish support groups for people with brain tumours, their families and carers.  The first of these groups has already been set up in the Bristol area.

Hammer Out would like people experiencing the shock and bewilderment of the diagnosis of brain tumours to know that you are not alone and have others to turn to.

If you need help or advice in coping with a brain tumour please do not hesitate to contact Tina Mitchell

Also, if you would like to make a donation to Hammer Out or set up a standing order, please contact us so that we can continue to provide these much needed services in the South West of England.

Paul Mitchell, 1965 - 2003

Paul’s passion for sport began in early childhood. As a teenager he trained with Fulham Youth and played for Sussex School Boys (under 19’s). We met at Bristol Polytechnic in 1984 where Paul studied Accounting and Finance. During this time Paul played for Bristol Rovers reserves where he played a game against his hero Billy Bonds! After playing for Mangotsfield for a season, Paul joined Cadbury Heath in 1988. He remained committed to them for the rest of his football career and as a club they continue to be really supportive to us as a family.

Paul subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst working at Solomon Hare. We married in 1991. During 1997 Paul began working at Churngold and in April he became the proud father to our beautiful son John James. He loved being a Dad and looked forward to the moment he could introduce John to a football! Paul was a wonderful, loving husband.

His Christian faith was central to all that he was and did and his work with Christians in Sport and his involvement at Thornbury Baptist Church was very important to him. Paul was diagnosed with a grade IV glioblastoma brain tumour in July 2001 and died in January 2003. He is missed by all those who knew him and loved him. His wish was to glorify God in his life and in his death.

Gerald Fellender, 1950 - 2002

I met Gerald in 1974 and Tina, my cousin, was bridesmaid at our wedding two years later. An aviation enthusiast, Gerald joined the Cotswold Gliding Club and became an Air Experience Instructor. He also did a parachute jump in 1990, helping to raise thousands of pounds for the Special Care Baby Unit at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. Voluntary work promoting safe driving with the Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA led him to starting his own business as a driving instructor in 1996. Our love of animals led to involvement with cat rescue and rehoming and support of the work of WWT at Slimbridge.

Gerald was diagnosed with a grade IV glioblastoma brain tumour in May 2001 and died at home on 12 August 2002, aged 52 years. Throughout his life and his illness, Gerald was loved by family and friends and respected for his care and concern for others and his honest and straightforward character. He is greatly missed by all who knew him, and I am grateful to have shared a close and loving relationship with such a wonderful man.