It's not moneysaving, but you might help save a life !

mike_paterson

I'm not sure if it is appropriate to post this here - or indeed anywhere on MSE so please delete if it is not appropriate.

Whilst surfing the net yesterday I came across a website that is trying to raise money. I was initially suspicious (I am always suspicious when it comes to people asking for money) but became convinced that this is a genuine case - and made a small donation by PayPal.

Basically a lady, Su is suffering from terminal cancer and there is only one potential cure - and that is an experimental drug that is not available on the NHS.

They need to raise £40,000 for the drug - Avastin and the treatment and are a quarter of the way there. Time is of the essence as always in these cases.

Even if you cannot afford to donate, please read their story and email your friends.

The website is http://www.weneedyounow.com/

They will also have some Dr Who related props donated and to be sold on eBay soon so look out for them.

I am sorry if i have upset anybody by doing this, but I felt that if I didn't then I would regret it.

Cheers
Mike

pdoff

u could also save lives by giving blood, joining the bone marrow donor register & the organ donor register.
or sponsor my race for life! can i request sponsors on here?!

mike_paterson

Looks like you have - Hope you get some !

Race for life is also supporting cancer charities I believe.

Cheers
Mike

mike_paterson

Latest update from www.weneedyounow.com

8th March 23:45

Tomorrow we're off to Yeovil for Su to have her PICC line put in. This is a tube which goes into her body on the inside of the elbow. The chemotherapy is administered through this tube.

I've had a few folk doubting the truth of this site today, so in an attempt to allay their suspicions, I'll be taking a few snaps of Su at the hospital tomorrow, with her little tube poking out of her arm.

Donations are still coming in, although they're more of a trickle compared to the flood we experienced last week. We're still raising £1000 per day though, which I feel is a very impressive amount.

Having said that, I'm beginning to feel a bit jittery about the finances, as I got the payment details through the post today. Although we have enough money to pay for treatments until sometime in April, I'd really like to feel that we've got the full amount safely saved in our new bank account.

So we're going to be a bit more public about things in future. We're considering getting a spot on a few radio stations to publicise our cause. It's not a decision we'll take lightly and I'll make sure that if we do go ahead with it, the kids will be safely tucked away in school when anything is broadcast.

On another note, I've received a few comments on some forums about how much the children know about the situation. Some folk think that they should know more, as they will have to find out at some point. I can understand that view, but with this treatment we've got a 12 month (at least) fight ahead. That is a very long time to deal with and things will not be made easier by having two panic-stricken children worrying every time Su gets her scan or blood test results. Also, I don't want them crying and screaming every time Mummy has a pain attack, thinking that she's dying before their eyes.

These things are very easy to comment on but you only truly understand things when you actually live in the situation.

Anyway, things are still progressing very well and I've got my eye on the £15000 mark. We're not a million miles away from it now and we should hit it within the next couple of days.

Before I disappear off to bed, I am aware that a number of parents from my school have got wind of what's happening and read this site. Today, I had a couple of gorgeous offers of help from three parents. I cannot tell you how grateful for this - we love you for it.

I trust you all to be discreet with how much you tell your children and what you say to me when Bethany is with me. Nevertheless, I won't rest until I've said this but I would happily give everything I own just to ensure both of our children are happy. Please do not talk to your children about this- it will get back to Bethany or Joshua in some way, no matter how much they swear to secrecy. Please do not view this site with your children nearby. By all means, tell them that Su is ill, tell them that Mr Woodley is busting his guts trying to raise a ridiculous amount of money; Josh and Beth know exactly what I'm doing and Beth in particular likes to know how much our total is. But please don't let anything about how serious things are reach their ears. The fallout will be very difficult and things are impossible enough as it is.

I won't end this update on that note as it sounds as though I'm getting all arsey and ungrateful. Trust me, I'm not. When I'm not sat by my computer I am continually pinching myself as I still can't quite believe the generosity of people. I'm constantly loading up my Paypal account to check I didn't imagine it all.

Tomorrow we take our first step into an unknown future. But without you and your support, we would not have any kind of future. We will never be able to repay you or thank you enough. You are all superstars.

Barcode

pdoff wrote:

or sponsor my race for life! can i request sponsors on here?!

Not sure. I'd put the link in my sig, but it was removed, I understand the no links in sig rules for blatant adverts etc, but didn't think something like RFL would be a problem. I'm doing the York one.

Donated 5 pounds to that website. The whole thing is just incredibly sad. I shall follow it with interest.

mike_paterson

Update from Dave:
15th March 23:55

Apologies for not putting an update on last night - I was rushed off my feet with work for our forthcoming theatre club production at school. Tons of music and sound effects to do. I eventually got to bed at 4am this morning and after three hours sleep, got up and went off to school. As a result, I look like something from a zombie movie, so I'll keep this brief (although I always say that and end up typing out an essay).

The main news is...

WE'VE HIT £20000!

THE HALFWAY MARK!

What can I say? Thank you a million times over. 50% of the total raised in only 13 days is incredible and is a testament to your kindness and generosity.

Su was taken to Yeovil again today (she went by hospital transport - I really can't keep missing work) and had her pump disconnected. Also, they flushed the PICC line with saline to clean it. Now she's got ten days before anything else happens again.

She won't be going to Yeovil again; all the treatments from now on are administered at home.

Tonight, before going to bed, Su told me that she is beginning to feel a tingling feeling in her scalp and she's sure that hair loss is imminent. We've got headscarves and bandanas ready for when it happens. When we were at Yeovil on Monday, the nurse told us about a woman who sells wigs in the hospital. We were going to at least see what they were like, but Su has since changed her mind. She is frightened that on a windy day it might blow off her head. I think she's been watching too much Benny Hill.

Before I disappear for the night, a couple of points. Firstly, updates will not be daily any more as there'll be very little to report until Su's next treatment. Secondly, if you email me and I don't reply, I apologise. I'm finding it incredibly hard to keep up with the correspondence. I'm currently getting 100s of emails every day.

Lastly, the site has been listed on a few new sites and forums today. As is to be expected, there are always some who are sceptical as to how genuine we are and whether this is all one big scam. I would normally get on these different message-boards and fight our corner, but to be honest I haven't got any energy left. I'm a bit fed up with battling to prove ourselves. The fabulous guys at 419Eater (a site specialising in internet scams) have given me a "seal of approval" which I'm going to put on the site tomorrow night. Also, we've been checked out by so many different administrators of sites, people have phoned our school, I've sent scans of letters and forms etc. I think I've done all I can to prove our case. If you don't believe me after all that, then there's not much else I can give you, apart from invite you round the house to watch Su's hair falling out.

See? I knew I'd end up writing a long essay.

Night night xxx

mike_paterson

Yesterday's update:

19th March 23:45

We're very close to hitting the £25000 mark, although donations have really slowed up this weekend. I'm still expecting a load of cheques from various sources in the next few days and this should bolster our fund a bit.

An advert went in the back of Private Eye on Friday, but there's been no real increase in donations as a result. Oh well- nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We had a lovely article written about us on p2pnet.net which can be read by clicking HERE.

Also, you may have noticed that I've added the 419Eater Seal Of Approval to the site, which will hopefully allay any fears about how real this all is.

Su's had a bit of a choppy day today. No hair loss as yet, but the inside of her mouth is really sore. We were warned about this possible side-effect when she went for her first chemo treatment. She's got some very strong mouthwash and some sort of cream to help with it. Sadly, she's only able to eat very cool things and foods that lack any kind of spice or strong flavour. Poor girl; she's been surviving on porridge for the last couple of days.

Also, a rather curious side-effect: the skin over her knuckles has become darker. I'm going to look into this one.

You may have noticed in my recent photos that Su is a little chubby around the cheeks. This is due to the large amount of steroids she was taking to reduce the swelling in her liver. Now she has started chemotherapy, she gradually lowered her dosage over the week and has now stopped taking them. The difference is remarkable. Her cheeks are already beginning to get back to normal and the morning depressions (another side-effect of the steroid) have disappeared.

The blue badge for the car arrived yesterday and we've already put it to good use this weekend.

Before I disappear, a little request.

Last week, we had a bit of a crisis. While Bethany was talking to her teacher, a little girl ran up to her and said "your mum's got liver cancer hasn't she?" This sort of flummoxed Beth and she mumbled a confused response. The girl persisted: "yeah, we saw you on the internet; you, Josh, your Mum and Mr Woodley."

While I am SO THANKFUL for all the lovely cards, kind words and donations I've received from parents at the school, please please please can you view this site without your children around? It makes things very awkward for us. We spent about an hour talking to Beth about it on Tuesday evening and she was really upset about the whole thing.

Of course, she knows her Mum has cancer but that doesn't mean she wants to be reminded about it every minute of her school day, and certainly not by a loud 7 year-old bellowing at the top of her voice.

Please be discreet because your children will not be. No matter how much they swear to secrecy, promise that they won't say anything - THEY WILL. They're kids, it's what they do.

Night all xxx

pdoff

Barcode wrote:

Not sure. I'd put the link in my sig, but it was removed, I understand the no links in sig rules for blatant adverts etc, but didn't think something like RFL would be a problem. I'm doing the York one.
.

mine too - thought with it being charity would be ok. how can this thread be ok but not asking for money for breast cancer?

mike_paterson

2 more updates - they are now at 70% of their total but donations are drying up.
Please pass on the details to your friends so that they can help !

Update

27th March 23:45

I dunno - updates are like buses. Wait for ages and then two appear almost at once!

A real quickie tonight. Just to say that Su receives her second lot of treatment tomorrow and it's the first that will be administered at our home. I've got to be at work tomorrow but I'll try to be around at some point to take a photo or two.

She's had a really good day today. My mum and dad came up to spend the day with her and Dad worked hard on our garden. He wants to turn it into something very special for her. It's a present for Su - it's her birthday on Wednesday. 46 years young! I know you're not supposed to reveal a lady's age but if you've read the "Our Story" page, you'll work it out anyway.

Our fund was boosted in a major way today thanks to the Salvation Army MADD club. They recently put on a production of a play called "Crikey Moses" and very kindly donated their profits to us - the super sum of £450! What can we say apart from a HUGE HUGE thank you to Erica and all the other people involved, especially all the lovely children who worked so hard in their production. A massive hug to you all.

Also, a gigantic bearhug for our mates Tina and Jamie who are currently working so hard for us.

I'll leave you tonight with a big cuddle for Trevor V. You know why, Trevor!

Night night xxx



26th March 19:30

An update at last! Sorry the site has been so badly attended to in the last week; things have been very busy here, although donations via the site have really dried up. So far today, we've raised £11! It had to happen at some point, I really think that all those who would be likely to give have already given.

Our advert in Private Eye raised a big fat zero- I suppose people are suspicious when they read sob-stories in the back of that magazine.

Nevertheless, I plead to you - if there's anywhere online that you think you might be able to post a link to our site, please do so! Avoid the computer techie type of message boards as it was from one of those that I managed to pick up my trouble-maker a few weeks ago. Check with any Administrators beforehand and if they require proof, get them to get in touch with me, either via email or phone. Nothing is too much trouble- I even managed to get the journalist from p2pnet in contact with Dr Falk (Su's oncologist)!

It's been a very busy week! Firstly, it was our school Theatre Club production of Sleeping Beauty this week. I was in charge of the music and sound; getting it all ready took hours. There were a few nights where I didn't get to bed until 4am because I was so busy making music tracks and creating sound effects. Bethany had a starring role in the piece as the evil fairy Nightshade - here's a picture I took of her after the final performance on Wednesday.

Click on the image for a larger version

She was superb and everyone was very proud of her. Although Su wasn't well enough to attend, a load of family came to watch; Julie (Su's mum), Steve (Beth's dad) and my parents. Also in the audience were our good friends Tina and Jamie, along with Jamie's mum Lucee who very kindly put our site onto her MSN group for us a few weeks ago (resulting in a load of donations). The proceeds from the raffle and refreshments were very kindly donated to our fund; £216! HUGE thanks to the staff involved and the PTA.

I also received the money raised by Stuart with his sponsored row. Thanks to his excellent efforts and the generosity of the parents and friends of Warminster Prep School, our fund was boosted by £1385! What a stunning amount of money! Massive thanks to Stuart and all the wonderful people who sponsored him. Here's a couple of pics Stuart sent me of him working up a sweat on his rowing machine.

Click on an image for a larger version

I received a lovely email along with a donation this week. The "Ye Olde Swan" in Woughton, Milton Keynes raised £120 during a quiz night for us. Huge thanks to Sandra, Simon, John, Adam, Kevin and all the others who contributed.

We also received funds from a friend and former colleague this week from the cake sale they held at their local church, Selsdon Baptist Church. Along with the funds raised were other personal donations given by members of the church. Big big thanks to you all - you're wonderful.

There's still so much left to happen with fundraising events, including one very special and exciting one that I can't say anything about yet! Also, I know Jackie (Su's sister) has raised a large amount of cash to add to the fund.

Expect another update soon - I'll try not to leave it a week this time!

I'll finish this one with a big thankyou to everyone who's donated so far.

Also, special hugs to the following folk...

• Anthony, Virginia and Victoria Green in Hong Kong,
• Nick H,
• Milisec Incorporated,
• Oliver K,
• David J,
• Chris D,
• Steven P-R,
• Dan J
• Donald S.

Addendum: OOPS! Forgot to mention anything about Su. She's doing very well at the mo, having suffered only a few side-effects from her treatment. Her hair is thinning a bit but no real loss so far. Her sore mouth is starting to get better although she has had some strange rashes appear on various areas of her body. She's completely off the steroids now so the side-effects associated with those (depression, swollen cheeks etc) have all but disappeared. As for her mood, she's very upbeat and positive.

Night night xxx

mike_paterson

The Site has now been re-designed as you can read below.
They are now just over 3/4 of the way to target.
Thanks for your help
Latest news:


1st April 22:15

It had to be done. I’ve been tinkering around with a new bit of web-design software and have jazzed up the site. Several people had commented that the site looked suspiciously clunky and didn’t really help our fight against those that doubt our situation. So hopefully this should tidy things up a bit. Also, you poor folk who still use a 800 x 600 resolution on your computers won’t have to constantly scroll around your screens!


However, if any of you experience problems with the new version of the site, with links or anything, please get in touch - [email="daveweneedyounow@googlemail.com"]daveweneedyounow@googlemail.com[/email]





1st April 12:30





We've just hit £30000!


We now have 75% of our target!


You are all wonderful x x x





31st March 23:00


Smallest update in history! Just a quick note to say thanks to donations received today, we're £125 away from reaching £30000!


A huge thank you to you all x x x





30th March 22:55





Some excellent news!...


On Sunday 23rd April, Cross Rifles FC will be playing Huntspill Crown FC at Bridgwater Town football ground, all in aid of our cause. I'll give you full details nearer the time but the following details will hopefully be happening on the day...


·


Penalty shoot-out at half-time - anyone from the crowd can pay to take a few shots!


·


Face-painting for the kids!


·


Balloon-modelling!


·


Raffle to win loads of great prizes!


·


And loads more!




We're hoping to have local radio and TV covering the event so there'll be the chance to get your face (or voice) on the box and wireless! Also, there'll be articles on the local papers too.


Tell your friends all about it - we're looking to fill the 2500 capacity ground. It'll be a great day out for the family.


Huge thanks to Jamie, John L, Roger P, Chris L and all the gang I met with this evening. What a bunch of absolute stars.


Night all x x x





29th March 23:55


Su had her second treatment yesterday and it went well. She's been fitted with a different kind of pump this time - it's not an electrical device but looks a bit like a drinks bottle. There's a sort of balloon inside with the drug inside that. The medication is squeezed through the PICC line at a higher rate than the pump.


She celebrated her 46th birthday today and a big hug to all of you who sent such lovely emails and cards. She was quite emotional this morning when opening all of her cards! Jackie (Su's sister) popped down to spend the day with her. I took a quick snap of her tonight with all of her cards.



Su with her birthday cards.


The bag she is wearing contains her pump. We foolishly returned the "bum bag" she'd had previously with the electrical pump she used a fortnight ago. We had nothing to put the new pump in! I've ordered a bum bag with a built-in bottle holder from eBay so hopefully things will be a bit more convenient next time.


We went to Bristol this evening for a quick consultation with Dr Falk, Su's oncologist. It was just to check up on how Su was coping with her treatment and what side-effects she was experiencing etc. He was very pleased with her progress and how well she seems to be dealing with the treatment.


Some fabulous news...


On MAY 15th at BRIDGWATER SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB, the comedian and songwriter MITCH BENN will be performing along with other special guests. You may have heard his work on BBC Radio 2's "The Now Show" and on his own BBC Radio 4 series "Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music". He is a regular on the comedy circuit and has appeared regularly at "The Comedy Store" in London. He has also featured on the Paramount Comedy channel.


He's a very funny guy - his stand-up and songs will have you in stitches. I'll give more details nearer the time, including entry costs and info about other events happening throughout the evening. A bar will be open all evening and the event will be strictly for people over 16 only.


Tell your friends!


A huge thankyou and hugs all round to Gordon and the staff at TMB Patterns who had a whipround for us and raised £100! You gave our fund a big boost today - thank you so much.


Also, huge thanks to our wonderful surrogate family at UK N*** who have given our fund a big boost today. Lots of people have given extra donations (as a birthday present for Su) to our fund and we cannot tell you how eternally grateful we are. Massive hugs to Sandman and all the gorgeous site members.


Night all and thank you for helping my gorgeous girl.

mike_paterson

10th April : Midnight


The Oh Mummy and Eye On Blatchford props are now on eBay for you to bid on. If you are a Doctor Who fan (or know one) then please feel free to bid on any of these unique items, all signed by actor Gabriel Woolf.


CLICK HERE to view all the items or go to our new eBay section on the menu above.