US travel ban hits cancer charity kids
SCOTS GIRL COULD MISS OUT ON VITAL VACCINE Bug strikes double blow to pioneering treatment
Angela Wormald A charity inspired by brave cancer lad Bradley Lowery is in a race against time to save other kids – after coronavirus struck a double blow.
A 65 per cent drop in donations and strict new visa requirements to enter the US mean children - including a young Scot - might not be able to complete pioneering vaccine treatment.
Bradley’s mum Gemma, 36, says the youngsters need to return to New York by the end of June or risk being removed from the scheme.
Her football- mad son melted the nation’s hearts as he fought neuroblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Bradley, six, became pals with Rangers star Jermain Defoe, 37, during the striker’s time at Sunderland.
After his death two years ago, Gemma set up the Bradley Lowery Foundation to help other children fighting the disease.
So far, it has raised more than £3million and helped send more than 30 children to New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The youngsters need to make several trips to receive a bivalent vaccine, which they hope wi l l prevent neuroblastoma returning.
But with Covid-19 wreaking havoc, Gemma said: “Fundraising for families that need to go to the US has practically stopped.
“Secondly, the children already receiving treatment have not been able to get to New York because of Covid. We have to get them there by the end of June or they’ll be kicked off the trial.
“You now need visas to get into the US. In the past it was an ESTA. We’ve contacted the Foreign Office and US Embassy but it’s touch and go if we’ll get them there.”
Gemma said there are three children on the vaccine programme.
They include Rebecca McKenna,enna, ffromrom Erskine, Renfrewshire,ewshire, and Cayla Jones, from Cullompton, Devon.
The charity is trying to raise funds for anotherother three kids to take part.
“It’s potential ly life-life- saving treatment,”ment,” Gemma said. “We wouldn’tn’t want to put children at risk of having a relapse.
“Youu have to accept risk with coronavirusavirus but the higher risk would be if the neuroblastoma returns.s.
“Everyoneryone is suffering with Covid--19 but we still need too support our children.en. There will be PPE and proceduresdures for travel.”vel.”
The ESTA visa waiver schscheme is suspended under US travel restrictions. Gemma has asked Foreign Secretary DominicD Raab to step in and her locallo MP has called on the US EmbaEmbassy to help.
Parents oof kids already on courses of trtreatment still hope to go.
Rebecca, fifive, who was told she was cancer-cancefree last March, is
We have to get the children tto the US by end of June or they ccould be kicked off the trial