Support for cancer sufferer ‘warms my heart’

DESIGNER Claire Prebble’s battle with incurable melanoma has attracted support and donations from as far afield as Bahrain. The 29-year-old spoke to The

Post on Sunday about her diagnosis, subsequent surgery and treatment. Last week her doctors gave the Wellingtonian the gut-wrenching news that, while further surgery, radiation and chemotherapy might prolong her life, there was no cure.

But with the same determination that saw her become the youngest winner of the World of WearableArt at just 18, she will keep fighting for a cure.

Prebble aimed to raise $80,000 to travel to a clinic in Germany for a month of intensive treatments, including hyperthermia – in which she is exposed to high temperatures to damage and kill cancer cells – as well as intravenous doses of ozone and vitamin C.

Donations have flowed in to her Givealittle page since the story was published, with almost $60,000 pledged by 630 donors by last night – up from $43,000 before her story appeared in the paper.

‘‘This has been amazing – to think I shared my Givealittle page with my Facebook friends on Thursday evening and it has led to this,’’ Prebble said. ‘‘The support and amazing messages have been flooding in. It truly warms my heart.’’

She plans to book her flights to Germany this week, with the aim of starting the month-long treatment programme on April 13.

She acknowledged that people might question her seeking alternative treatments, but said she needed to know she had exhausted all options in her fight.