Huge response to Kelly’s plea
A YOUNG mother with terminal cancer has been left “overwhelmed” after the community in her small town came together to raise money for treatment which could prolong her life.
A YOUNG mother with terminal cancer has been left “overwhelmed” after the community in her small town came together to raise money for treatment which could prolong her life.
Kelly Maybury, 36, from Maesteg, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2011 and in 2016 she was told by doctors that the disease had become terminal.
The hairdresser and beautician made an application to her local health board, the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMUHB), for the drug bevacizumab, also known as Avastin.
The drug is used to treat advanced forms of cancer by starving tumours of oxygen.
But Kelly’s application was turned down by ABMUHB on the grounds that her treatment, at a cost of £3,800 per cycle, would place a “financial burden” on the health board.
She was also told that “exceptionality” in Kelly’s application has not been demonstrated.
Despite the crushing blow dealt to Kelly and her family, including husband Mark, 40, daughter Carys, 16, and son Daniel, 12, the community of Maesteg has rallied round to try and raise the funds to pay for the treatment.
So far, more than £7,500 has been raised through a Just Giving page set up by Kelly’s friend Julia Walter, and a number of fundraising events have been planned over the next few months.
Ribbons have also worn by people in the town showing their support for Kelly and her family.
Kelly said: “Everyone has been amazing, I am just overwhelmed to be honest.
“I came back from chemotherapy on Friday and driving through town and to see all the ribbons left me nearly in tears.
“It nice to know that people who I don’t even know are doing things and people are messaging me. There’s just so much going on.
“I saw a little girl with a bow on her lunch box and I think that’s amazing when young children who don’t fully understand the situation are willing to help. It’s lovely and heartwarming.”
Among the events are a fun day in Caerau on May 29, a horse racing event at Nantyffyllon rugby club on June 23 and a karaoke disco at Maesteg Cricket Club on June 30.
The biggest event takes place on June 3 in Maesteg with a dance performance, and a tattoo parlour will be carrying tattoos of an owl, designed by Kelly’s daughter, the proceeds of which will go towards the fundraising pot.
Kelly’s friend Julia Walters said: “It’s unbelievable up here, a lot of people are saying they never felt this way in the community before.
“You can hear Kelly Maybury’s name talked about everywhere you go and it’s unbelievable the way they sympathise with her story and thought ‘this is wrong, we need to help her’.”
After her latest round of chemotherapy, Kelly is now recovering but she said she is determined to fight the disease.
She said: “It doesn’t look like I’m going to get (the treatment) on the health board but I am sure with everyone behind me I will get the money.
“It’s of course a matter of when and the sooner I can get it the better but everyone is brilliant. I am so lucky.”
Visit www.justgiving. com/ crowdfunding/ Ke ll y - Maybur y- B r i - an-Preece?utm_ id= 90& amp;% 3Butm_ term=vKdZ64w4R to make a donation.