A little help for Isabel

Fundraising campaign by Antony Goodall

by Antony Goodall

Chelmsford, uk

Cancer is a word that provokes considerable emotion. Nobody wants to hear it, especially not in the context of children. Cancer in children is considered to be relatively rare, with around 1,600 diagnoses in the UK each year. But that’s still almost 30 per week! My fundraising challenge is for the family of one of those children with cancer.

My daughter Lana’s best friend is Isabel. Since they first met they’ve been inseparable and have formed an incredible friendship. In March this year, aged two and half, Isabel started to complain of pain in her hips. After an initial misdiagnosis, doctors identified that Isabel had a rare neuroblastoma tumour on the adrenal gland on her kidney. The cancer, which was in an advanced stage (4), had also spread to her bone marrow and additional tumours had formed behind her eyes.

Isabel is under the care of Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and has been placed on a very intensive treatment plan consisting of chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support and radiotherapy. The care she is receiving is great, but this is an extremely hard time for the family as they put all they have into looking after Isabel and supporting her through the treatment.

Isabel and her family are strong. No doubt they have times when it all feels too difficult. But they have no choice other than to keep going and to keep positive. By raising some money, I'm hoping to make their lives just a little bit easier.

How this campaign will help

Update posted by Antony Goodall On Sep 23, 2015

Donations are going strictly to Isabel's family. Isabel's actual treatment is covered; the money raised through this exercise will be used for the many additional things that her family need to do around the treatment. It will be for:

Travelling to and from Addenbrooke's Hospital
Feeding her what she wants when she wants (often kids won't eat at all during treatment)
Clothing that won't pull on her various tubes (she has three: two from the right side of body, and a nose one)
The hospital film bundle for the next four weeks during which visitors aren't allowed (the hospital does lend children portable DVD players but those need power points which are very limited during chemo and bag feeds - i.e. all the time)
Other items, which are more "normal", but are changed drastically during treatment (there have been days when she has needed twenty nappy changes along with seven changes of clothes)

The family want to say a "massive thank you" to everyone who has donated. The money will clearly make a difference as Isabel's treatment continues.

We've raised significantly more than the original target, and need to pay consideration to what to do with any money not required in support of Isabel - this is an unlikely situation, and we will provide full communication should it happen.

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Thank you!

Update posted by Antony Goodall On Sep 17, 2015

I've not really done much fundraising before. I didn't know what to expect when I launched the campaign on Monday morning. The relatively modest target was based on a thought that most of us could probably forgo a take away coffee or a pint in the pub to help someone out. Well, together we've clearly gone way beyond the target and in just four days the total is incredible! Thank you all so much for contributing.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Isabel today. What a girl! She has such an amazing and fun personality - cheeky, playful and great to be around. Seeing her and Lana playing like any other 2-3 year olds was wonderful.

Isabel's next round of treatment starts soon. And it's going to be tough. The contributions, messages and love shown by everyone are a much-needed positive influence. Once again, thank you.

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