Your friends are fundraising. Don't miss out, opt in.

We did it!

Penny Smith raised £2,321 from 90 supporters

or

Start your own crowdfunding page

Closed 23/08/2021

0%
£2,321
raised of £3,000 target by 90 supporters

    Weʼve raised £2,321 to Raise funds for Ward 33 at Castle Hill hospital and TCT. Please read story updates. Thank you x

    Funded on Monday, 23rd August 2021

    Don't have time to donate right now?

    Story

    Update January 2021

    It's with broken hearts that we have to share the news that brave Ashley passed away peacefully at home on Saturday 23rd January. We managed to have Christmas with him at home but he deteriorated rapidly in his last week. We'd like to give huge thanks to those that have supported him and ourselves through this heart breaking time. While our hearts are broken and hollow we still pass on all our love and gratitude to the amazing team at Ward 30 who have become part of our family.

    If you still wish to donate to this amazing charity and these amazing people please do so.

    Update November 2020

    So we have received some devastating news, but first the good bits: The money you have all provided so generously has helped Ward 33 to purchase 5 new TV's and Universal remote controls. The TCT have also received an amazing donation of £1100. Unfortunately we have been given the awful news that despite ongoing Chemo therapy a new tumour has been developing under the one Ashley found. The chemo is not effective and so has been stopped. The Stem cell replacement has also been cancelled. So we are into palliative care and Radio therapy to try reduce the advance of the cancer. We will, as we said, use the remainder of funds to help Ashley do as many memorable things as he can (in the current situation it's limited of course). Thank you all for your generosity and wonderful words of support, we couldn't have got this far without you all. Take care of yourselves and stay safe in this awful time we are in. xx

    Ashley Winks looks like a normal 20 year old young man with an obsession (and talent) for music and guitars. However Ashley is currently undergoing chemotherapy for a fairly rare and aggressive form of cancer. But this isn’t the first time Ashley has been here….

    In October 2019 Ashley started to feel unwell, trips to doctors and eventually hospital resulted in a diagnosis of Pneumonia and eventually Ashley was discharged. Within a week of discharge Ashley was back in hospital, worse than ever and after a number of days and various doctors the dreaded word of Cancer was raised – it was suspected that Ashley had Lymphoma (blood type cancer of the Lymphatic system). Ashley was transferred into ICU to stabilise while awaiting confirmation of what type of cancer he had and therefore what treatment was needed.

    The diagnosis came through as Burkitt Lymphoma, a fairly rare and fast spreading cancer. A treatment plan was pulled together and Ashley was transferred to the Teenagers ward at Castle Hills’ Oncology department. The treatment was going to be tough, but there was optimism that the cancer could be cured and had a good success rate in younger people. It’s fair to say there were some bumps along the way, Ashley was obviously scared and suffered with anxiety but his family were constantly by his side. The staff at Castle Hill were, and are, simply amazing. They make the patients as comfortable and supported as possible and they along with the Teenage Cancer Trust helped to make some dark days manageable and pierce them with rays of sunshine and rainbows. They are also there with experience, calmness and supportive words for those who suffer with the patient – their loved ones and family. We will never be able to thank them enough for all they have done and all they are continuing to do.

    Fast forward to December and Ashley was home for Christmas (a real bonus) with final treatment scheduled from 2nd January. All was going well, the cancer was being beaten and after the final round of treatment tests showed that the cancer seemed to have gone. The future looked bright, it was unknown (but possible) for this cancer to come back when young people had successfully been cured. And so we were all looking forward to happiness of remission and hopefully the all clear once a number of future tests came back clear.

    COVID19 became another (small) bump in the road, Ashley obviously had to shield given the recent chemo and immunotherapy treatments, but that was ok, practicing guitar in his bedroom wasn’t exactly hell! But in June Ashley found a lump on his back, alarm bells rang and a trip to the doctor resulted in being sent for scans. The scan confirmed what we thought was nigh on impossible – within just 5 months the cancer had returned and the doctors themselves were astonished and perplexed as they’d never seen this before other than in elderly patients and normally after years, not months.

    So here Ashley is again, back to a similar regimen but this time with the added possibility of Stem cell replacement, assuming treatment works to eradicate the Lymphoma again. So we are back into uncertain territory again but we hope that with the amazing doctors, nurses and support staff at Castle Hill Ashley will once again help him beat this horrible disease once and for all.

    And this is where we ask for your support. Taking the positive approach we want to raise money for Ward 33 at Castle Hill hospital and the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) so that they can continue to be brilliant at what they do and cure and support those unfortunate enough to find themselves in need of their care, expertise, dedication and compassion. But they need funds and support to do this and we’d like your help to raise as much money as possible. They are looking to improve facilities for patients (and family) by extending a kitchen area, install more TV’s etc and we’d like to raise money to help them achieve this. However if things don’t turn out as we hope we’d like to have some financial support to allow Ashley to experience some things we couldn’t do without the kindness and generosity of others. But Ashley is also adamant that money raised needs to go to the TCT and Castle Hill and therefore if we do need some to make some of Ashleys’ dreams come true we will ensure that most of the funds raised goes to Castle Hill and TCT if not all of it.

    Finally, thank you for taking the time to read Ashleys’ story (and you can see some of it here in a recent Hull Daily Mail article on Ashley) and we thank you for any donations you can give to the amazing charity and Ward 33 at Castle Hill.

    Teenage Cancer Trust

    Update:

    Ashley and his family would like to say a huge thank you for all your kind messages and donations this means so much.

    Ashley has under gone two rounds of chemo and has just started his third. There has been some reduction in his lump and doctors have said it's a good start. He now has a date for his stem cell treatment which is the 21st October.

    Ashley has kept busy over the last few weeks with his band - All Gone South, playing a performance to close family and friends that has helped both the fundraising and keeping Ashley focused.

    Ashley also went to Sheffield to support his employer in a fundraising bike ride for the National TCT. Raising over £3000.

    ENJoy Riders Ride for Ashley in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

    We are getting there!

    Update November 2020

    So we have received some devastating news, but first the good bits: The money you have all provided so generously has helped Ward 33 to purchase 4 new TV's and Universal remote controls. The TCT have also received an amazing donation of £1100. Unfortunately we have been given the awful news that despite ongoing Chemo therapy a new tumour has been developing under the one Ashley found. The chemo is not effective and so has been stopped. The Stem cell replacement has also been cancelled. So we are into palliative care and Radio therapy to try reduce the advance of the cancer. We will, as we said, use the remainder of funds to help Ashley do as many memorable things as he can (in the current situation it's limited of course). Thank you all for your generosity and wonderful words of support, we couldn't have got this far without you all. Take care of yourselves and stay safe in this awful time we are in. xx

    Updates

    2

    • Penny Smith3 years ago
      Penny Smith

      Penny Smith

      3 years ago

      Hi everyone, we wanted to share a sad update on Ashley's story. Please read the end of the story for the update.

      Share this update to help us raise more

    • Penny Smith4 years ago
      Penny Smith

      Penny Smith

      4 years ago

      Ashley and his family want to say a huge thank you for all your kind words and donations this means so much. Ashley has started his 3rd round of chemo. The lump has reduced, Doctors have said it's a good start, his stem cell treatment is set for 21st Oct. He has kept busy over the last few weeks with All Gone South, playing a gig to close family/friends that helped the fundraising and keeping him focused. Ashley went to Sheffield to support his employer in a fundraising bike ride for the National TCT. Pls revisit the page for more details!

      Update from the Page owner

      Share this update to help us raise more

    4 years ago

    Penny Smith started crowdfunding

    Leave a message of support

    Page last updated on: 2/15/2021 13.40

    Supporters

    90

    • Sam (Riverside)

      Sam (Riverside)

      Feb 15, 2021

      £10.00

    • Karen, Faith and family

      Karen, Faith and family

      Feb 13, 2021

      £20.00

    • Kingswood Academy Staff

      Kingswood Academy Staff

      Feb 2, 2021

      In memory of a very well respected and polite young man. From all the staff at Kingswood Academy

      £80.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Jan 28, 2021

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Jan 28, 2021

    • Graham Walgate

      Graham Walgate

      Dec 10, 2020

      £10.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Nov 30, 2020

      £60.00

    What is crowdfunding?

    Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered charity.

    The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.

    Great people make things happen

    Do you know anyone in need or maybe want to help a local community cause?

    Create you own page and donʼt let that cause go unfunded!

    About Crowdfunding
    About the fundraiser
    Penny Smith

    Penny Smith

    Report this Page