Fundraisers give cancer mum drug NHS denied
AMUM battling terminal cancer will start a treatment that could prolong her life even though the NHS deemed her case not “exceptional” enough to warrant it.
Kelly Maybury was refused a drug designed to starve tumours of blood and oxygen on the grounds of cost, despite the cancer spreading throughout her body.
Her friends and the wider community in her hometown of Maesteg were appalled at the health board’s decision so they decided to fund it themselves.
Speaking ahead of the first dose today, she thanked them “from the bottom of my heart”.
“Having this treatment wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the support and effort of everyone in the community,” she said.
The Kelly’s Wish fund has raised £58,000 towards the £75,000 needed in just two months.
Kelly, 36, is now due to restart chemotherapy at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre, where she will also receive a dose of Bevacizumab, also known as Avastin.
The drug costs £3,800, plus VAT, per dose and Kelly’s Wish aims to provide 15 months of treatment.
“Unfortunately, no thanks to the NHS, I had to go public putting myself and my family in the public eye telling them everything about myself,” said Kelly, a hairdresser and beautician who is married to Mark, 40, and mum to daughter Carys, 16, and son Daniel, 12.
“By doing this and having to ask for help, everyone supported me and the whole community got together and did what they could to raise money for my treatment and they are continuing to do so. I have had a tough time lately and all treatment had to be put on hold due to me recovering from two brain surgeries.
“I am slowly recovering from this now and am able to start treatment again. “
Kelly beat cervical cancer after being diagnosed in 2013, but last year she was told the disease had returned and was now in her lung, lymph gland and kidney.
Her consultant recommended Avastin but Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board denied her application for funding. In an email the health board said the drug would “place a financial burden” on them. It also said that “exceptionality” in Kelly’s application had “not been demonstrated”.
Kelly’s Wish has filled the Llynfi Valley with green bows, each sold for £2, to help raise the money to fund the drug.
Fundraiser, treasurer and also longtime friend of Kelly’s, Julia Walters, will be accompanying her to Velindre.
She said: “It will be a long, long day, but I can’t wait for her to start Avastin. 100% I did not imagine that the fund would take off in this way. It’s totally amazing, it really is. They are helping Kelly so, so much to give her something she was refused.”