Funding for our dad’s immunotherapy

Hello, friends and strangers of the Internet.

Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to read this.

There are many stories in the world just like this, but there is no one in the world like Richard Webb, our dad. As his four daughters, we are writing to you in an attempt to save his life, because we believe he makes this world a better, brighter place. He has certainly been the centre of ours.

Our dad is the kind of man who will give you the clothes off his back. He is honest, compassionate and is not afraid to show emotion. He hasn’t had an easy life, having gone through much hardship and financial struggles. Despite this, he will still give every last cent he has to ensure a better life for us all, and he will do it with a smile and a dad-joke. He is the kind of dad who would sing us silly little songs every morning while bringing us tea. When we were sick, he would read up about our illness all night to see what he could do to help. And now, the tables have turned.

As Covid-19 was sweeping through South Africa and the world, the unthinkable happened. Our dad was diagnosed with aggressive melanoma in March 2020. It was not a good prognosis, but we all stayed positive and rallied together to support him.

Our dad's oncologist informed him that chemotherapy was not an effective treatment for melanoma, but he bravely decided to give it a shot anyway. Anyone who has done chemo or has witnessed a loved one go through it will know that it is almost as aggressive and debilitating as the cancer itself.

Richard had four intensive chemotherapy sessions, followed by two operations to cut out the large tumour that was growing under his arm. The surgeon then cut out more moles which also turned out to be cancerous and our worst fear was confirmed – the chemotherapy did not work and the cancer is advanced.

This leaves one last option – immunotherapy. 55% of patients who get this treatment achieve long- term remissions, and some even cure.

That gave us hope. Immunotherapy is effective in treating advanced melanoma and is our dad’s best chance of survival, but turns out the price tag is as scary as the cancer. The first four doses of combination immunotherapy are R140 000 per dose. Thereafter each dose costs R100 000. He has to do these treatments every 3 weeks for up to two years (a total of 35 doses), our hearts sank. Immunotherapy is not covered by the hospital plan Richard is currently on.
And none of us have that kind of money. (Who does?)

Can you put a price on someone’s life?

We sat with this impossible question.

It turns out you can, but we refuse to abandon hope because our dad’s life is priceless.

So we will keep fighting for him, as he fights for his life.

This is where you come in.

Our father, Richard, needs immunotherapy now. We need to urgently raise R500 000 before the cancer spreads.

We know this is an incredibly tall ask and more money than most people will see in their lifetime (including us), but we are desperate. We’ve seen the Internet work in weird and wonderful ways and pray that this is one of those extraordinary occasions.

If you are in a position to make a donation, words cannot express how truly grateful we are. Every bit helps, no matter how big or small. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

If you would like to help but are unable to make a financial contribution, please share this to your social platforms and with your networks far and wide. It could save our dad’s life. We appreciate it so much.

Our dad, Richard Webb, is many things. With your help, we hope to add SURVIVOR to that list so we can keep hearing his dad-jokes.

If you have read this far, you’re proof that earth angels do exist.
Love from his daughters

For more info on immunotherapy:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/treating/immunotherapy.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-cancer/immunotherapy-success-rates-for-melanoma#success-rates

Any funds that won't be used will be donated to more immunotherapy research.