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Matt Heald raised £27,194.5 from 798 supporters
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Closed 25/10/2023
Iʼve raised £27,194 to Fight for Family: A Father's Journey Against Synovial Sarcoma
- Barnsley, South Yorkshire
- Funded on Wednesday, 25th October 2023
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Story
Back in February I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma. The doctors at the time told me the only way to save my life was to amputate my leg. It was a daunting decision but I jumped at it to be around for my partner Claire and my baby son Ezra.
After 3 gruelling months of trying to learn to walk again, side by side with Ez (who beat me to walking by 2 days) I was told that I should have some adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent it coming back. I went for it and it seriously beat me and ground me down, resulting in almost dying from sepsis.
In my follow up meeting with the oncologist, I was going to tell him that I wanted to quit the chemo but unfortunately, that meeting didn’t go as planned. A routine CT scan showed that not only was the cancer back with a vengeance, there were a dozen inoperable and incurable tumours on my lungs.
Now the only option left is to go back in with the chemotherapy for another 15 weeks to try and give me more time. Without the chemo I have been told I have 3-6 months to live. I have told myself I have to do this. I have to try and be around for my family and do everything I can to provide for them. Little Ez is about to turn one next week.
Many of my family and friends have all asked to help out in whatever way they can so I decided the best thing to do is set up this fundraiser. My intentions for the funds raised are three-fold. Although I might not be around for Ez as he grows up, I want to be able to provide for him and Claire like I would have if I had been here.
Firstly, the money will be used to create memories with my family before I pass, but secondly, to help Ezra have the best start in life, something a dad really wants for his kid. Thirdly and finally, depending on the amount fundraised, then some of the money raised could be used to live longer using treatments that are outside the scope of the NHS.
Updates
3
- 1 year ago
Matt Heald
1 year agoThanks again for your donations and messages of support. I have one more round of chemotherapy to go before my next big CT scan. After that I am hoping to get 6-9 months to enjoy with my family before the cancer returns. I already have a nice little U.K. bucket list and your donations are going to help me tick some of those off and make some happy memories with Claire & Ez.
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- 1 year ago
Matt Heald
1 year agoThank you to everyone who has supported me and my family via justgiving. Words cannot describe how much you have touched our lives with your kindness.
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- 1 year ago
Matt Heald
1 year agoThanks so much to everyone who has donated or left a message of support. Me and Claire are both overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. Your donations have provided us with a glimmer of hope and comfort through what has been the hardest time in my life. Your compassion and support has reminded me that I am not alone in this fight against cancer. You have already done so much to help Ezra have a better start in life and truly touched our lives in ways words cannot express. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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Matt Heald started crowdfunding
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Supporters
798
Anonymous
Oct 20, 2023
£30.00
Anonymous
Oct 16, 2023
£80.00
Anonymous
Oct 11, 2023
Keep on Fighting My Man!
£100.00
Anonymous
Sep 3, 2023
Steverockhead
Aug 31, 2023
£50.00
Anonymous
Aug 29, 2023
£20.00
Lin Hulme Dooni-raffle
Aug 28, 2023
I am sending this on behalf of many generous doonican fans who bought raffle tickets in the last couple of weeks for some random tatt. Sending our love and best wishes Lin Hulme x
£475.00
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Matt Heald
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Pop culture artist from the UK. Matt has had the pleasure of working with some amazing YouTubers and Hollywood actors over the years. View his website: retrodesignco.co.uk