MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2018 LEICESTER MERCURY
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❚❙ £100,000 appeal launched to pay for new mum’s cancer treatment
BY JACOB JARVIS
A dying mum is “absolutely
desperate” to raise money for
cancer treatment abroad to
give her precious time with her
baby daughter.
Kate Geraghty, 34, spotted a
lump on her face two days be-
fore her daughter Ivy was
born, in December.
Within weeks of giving birth,
Kate and her boyfriend Paul
Dhillon, 35, were told it was a
cancerous growth.
This week, the couple, who
live off Hinckley Road,
Leicester, found out the spread
of the tumour is so severe sur-
gery is no longer an option.
The cancer cannot be cured,
but immunotherapy, offered
privately abroad, could give
her precious extra time with
her daughter.
The treatment is designed to
boost the body’s natural de-
fences to help it fight the can-
cer.
It is not available on the NHS.
UNCERTAINTY
A fund-raising page with a
target of £100,000 was launched
on Friday and had already
raised more than £28,000 yes-
terday.
Kate, a keen kickboxer before
becoming ill, said: “After the in-
credible high of becoming par-
ents to our daughter Ivy, we
have received such devastating
news.
“The whole of Ivy’s short life
has been filled with my fre-
quent hospital visits, tests and
surgery – not to mention the
constant fear and uncertainty
while also trying to bond with
our baby.
“I want to try anything pos-
sible to give me more time with
Paul, Ivy and all of my loved
ones.
“We feel humbled by every-
one’s reaction and can’t thank
people enough for their sup-
port.
“We are absolutely desperate
to raise at least £100,000 as
quickly as possible, potentially
to travel abroad and begin the
immunotherapy treatment.
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SNAPSHOTS: Kate
Geraghty with Ivy,
partner Paul Dhillon
and kickboxing
‘Every donation
gives us chance
for time as family’
“Every donation will help to
give us a chance for extra time
together as a family and see Ivy
grow up.
“We have been completely
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overwhelmed with all the
donations, love and support
from everyone. We read every
single message of support on
the page.”
ROOFING
Kate used to teach at the Chil- course for prevention of self-
dren’s Hospital School in harm, using skills from her
Leicester, specialising in Eng- master’s degree in psychology.
lish. “It was a very rewarding job I
She also ran a group therapy really enjoyed and was looking
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NEWS
forward to returning to after
my maternity leave,” said Kate.
The cancer, a high-grade
metastatic mucoepidermoid
carcinoma, is located at the
base of Kate’s skull, but has
spread significantly despite a
previous attempt to remove it.
Surgeons have said even if a
further operation could take
place, the chances of survival
are very slim.
Kate would have a low quality
of life if she did make it
through.
When told this news, she had
already had a five-hour proced-
ure to remove the tumour. That
left her with nerve damage and
partial facial paralysis.
Now, therapies to extend her
life and make her more com-
fortable throughout it are her
focus.
She and Paul, an English
teacher at Moat Community
College, in Leicester, first ex-
plored selling their house to
fund the foreign medical bills.
However, because she needs
the help urgently, the time
frame is not realistic.
OPTIONS
Kate’s sister, Becca Storer,
said: “I created the Just Giving
page for my sister, who has
gone from achieving all of her
dreams to living her worst
nightmare in the space of four
short, terrifying months.
“This was supposed to be
Kate’s year.
“Instead, she’s facing the
battle of a lifetime to fight a
very aggressive form of cancer.
“Kate is anything but defeat-
ist and messaged me soon after
her appointment to ask that we
start helping her look for op-
tions for immunotherapy.
“I am completely in awe of
Kate’s strength and determina-
tion but we are now fighting for
her life and we need your help.”
The campaign has been sup-
ported by well-known names
around Leicester, including
world cup-winning rugby play-
er Neil Back, Leicester City le-
gend Steve Walsh and the sing-
er Jersey Budd.
To donate to the page, visit:
justgiving.com/crowdfunding/
rebecca-storer
0116 2887447