Generous Express readers rush to the aid of cancer nurse
A BRAVE NHS nurse with terminal cancer last night paid tribute to the “unbelievable” kindness of strangers who have given tens of thousands of pounds to help keep her alive.
Laura Harris, 42, has been battling bowel cancer since early last year and now needs to take the drug bevacizumab, which is not available to her on the NHS.
The mother of three said she had been “blown away” by the generosity of the public after raising enough funds to begin treatment which could add months to her life.
Since the Daily Express highlighted Laura’s case last week donations to her fundraising page have swelled, with the fund last night reaching the £80,000 mark.
If £100,000 can be raised for Laura, she will be able to pay for more maintenance doses of the drug, granting her precious extra time with her loved ones.
Laura, of Barnstaple, north Devon, said: “Thank you to all your readers and everyone who has donated.
“It is unbelievable. I am absolutely blown away by the kindness of strangers. These are people I have never met.
“This is the best side of the human spirit, helping your fellow man.
“It is not about how much people are giving but the fact that they are reaching out.
“I love reading the comments on my page. They help me think ‘I can do this’.” Speaking as she prepared to begin her new course of treatment today, which will take seven gruelling hours, she said: “I am going in knowing I have got a team around me. I feel like the world is my team.”
Laura also said she had heard from other NHS nurses who were rooting for her and also relatives of patients she had cared for in the past.
She said: “I have had lovely messages from people who said ‘we know what you did for our loved ones in their time of need and now it is time to return that to you’.
“Nurses don’t expect anything in return for our jobs. I have my very own wonderful nurse and she is my angel.”
Laura was initially given just three months to live. She endured bouts of chemotherapy but the cancer spread throughout her body.
To donate to Laura’s page visit https://www.gofundme. com/laura-treatment-fund.
THE tragic story of cancer nurse Laura Harris, who is herself suffering from terminal cancer, has had a deep impact on Daily Express readers who heard about her plight at the weekend. Many of our generous readers have pledged money to help Laura get the drug she needs to prolong her life – which, unfortunately, is not available on the NHS.
She says she is overwhelmed by how generous strangers have been and hopes her story will encourage others not to ignore health concerns. What a woman.