Cycle for Olivers Immunotherapy
Donation protected
Martin Connor and Lorenzo Luiso are taking part in the Prudential Ride London 100, to raise funds for Oliver Famili.
Please take the time to read Olivers full story, Link at the bottom of this page!
The 100 Mile Cycle
Firstly, the ride itself is on the 29th July 2018, it is a 100 Mile cycle from East London through Central London to Surrey and looping back to finish along the Mall at Buckingham Palace. Neither of us are avid cyclists, meaning that the route made famous by the 2012 Olympics shall be a gruelling test.
We aim to raise as much as we can for Oliver, as you read on you will start to comprehend the mammoth task that lay ahead for him and we hope that you will support us in any way that you can, even by sharing and passing Olivers story on we can help Oliver take the necessary steps to recovery.
More importantly on to Oliver.
Oliver, 29 years old, has had a torturous time of suffering and ill health since Christmas 2017.
Oliver began to feel exhausted all the time, and always in pain. He suffered back pains which grew more severe, and despite making trips to his GP (over 6 weeks) he was always turned home with 'muscular pains' - an easy excuse for a fit and active person (which he was). With the pains growing more excruciating, he realised something was not quite right and checked himself into an A&E. Oliver spent a difficult couple of weeks in hospital and remained getting treated for 'muscular pains'. He was even permitted discharge with a referral to see a rheumatologist. But Oliver refused to leave.
With the doctors and nurses growing exceedingly frustrated with his refusal to go home, one day Oliver collapsed.
This fall, was a blessing in disguise.
Why you ask? Because it finally led to a CT Scan which began Olivers journey to where he currently is today. With the discovery of 9 fractures and lesions in his spine, the doctors began their examinations in fear of something more sinister...

Following further tests and an extremely painful bone marrow biopsy, Oliver was diagnosed with Mutiple Myeloma.
What is Multiple Myeloma?
A blood cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies. Myeloma is not a curable cancer, though it's considered 'treatable' for a number of years. Oliver is one of the youngest to be diagnosed with MM as its often found in those over 70 years of age.
Olivers Current treatment
Oliver began introductory chemotherapy and inbetween cycles, he underwent two spinal surgeries to 'cement' 5 of his 9 fractures which had left him in a wheelchair unable to walk. Thankfully, the surgeries with the Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon at The Royal National Orthopaedic, went well. Oliver can now walk with the help of a back brace, although he has lost a couple inches off his height!
Oliver has been undertaking cycles of Chemotherapy, unfortunately his body has not been responding well, which led to Oliver being put on 'High Dose' Chemotherapy (VTD PACE) which involves being wired up for a week straight on constant chemo drips, in addition to around 30 pills a day.
All of this is in preparation for a Stem Cell Transplant(s).
As this disease is not curable, the aim is to achieve as long as a remission period as possible.
But, What if?
Some of you may have heard of Immunotherapy - the new "cure". This has been tested on a number of patients and the majority of these patients are now in full remission. Instead of killing every cell in your being, it boosts the bodies immune system to help you fight the cancer cells off. This treatment sounds perfect, but it's not available to Oliver unless he can cover the costs himself. As you can imagine this costs a lot of money.
How can you help?
These funds will help Oliver raise the funds he needs for immunotherapy.
From us all, we can only assure you that no donation is too small.
Please help Oliver beat this disease and get his life back.
https://uk.gofundme.com/oliver-needs-help-for-immunotherapy
Please take the time to read Olivers full story, Link at the bottom of this page!
The 100 Mile Cycle
Firstly, the ride itself is on the 29th July 2018, it is a 100 Mile cycle from East London through Central London to Surrey and looping back to finish along the Mall at Buckingham Palace. Neither of us are avid cyclists, meaning that the route made famous by the 2012 Olympics shall be a gruelling test.
We aim to raise as much as we can for Oliver, as you read on you will start to comprehend the mammoth task that lay ahead for him and we hope that you will support us in any way that you can, even by sharing and passing Olivers story on we can help Oliver take the necessary steps to recovery.
More importantly on to Oliver.
Oliver, 29 years old, has had a torturous time of suffering and ill health since Christmas 2017.
Oliver began to feel exhausted all the time, and always in pain. He suffered back pains which grew more severe, and despite making trips to his GP (over 6 weeks) he was always turned home with 'muscular pains' - an easy excuse for a fit and active person (which he was). With the pains growing more excruciating, he realised something was not quite right and checked himself into an A&E. Oliver spent a difficult couple of weeks in hospital and remained getting treated for 'muscular pains'. He was even permitted discharge with a referral to see a rheumatologist. But Oliver refused to leave.
With the doctors and nurses growing exceedingly frustrated with his refusal to go home, one day Oliver collapsed.
This fall, was a blessing in disguise.
Why you ask? Because it finally led to a CT Scan which began Olivers journey to where he currently is today. With the discovery of 9 fractures and lesions in his spine, the doctors began their examinations in fear of something more sinister...
Following further tests and an extremely painful bone marrow biopsy, Oliver was diagnosed with Mutiple Myeloma.
What is Multiple Myeloma?
A blood cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for producing antibodies. Myeloma is not a curable cancer, though it's considered 'treatable' for a number of years. Oliver is one of the youngest to be diagnosed with MM as its often found in those over 70 years of age.
Olivers Current treatment
Oliver began introductory chemotherapy and inbetween cycles, he underwent two spinal surgeries to 'cement' 5 of his 9 fractures which had left him in a wheelchair unable to walk. Thankfully, the surgeries with the Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon at The Royal National Orthopaedic, went well. Oliver can now walk with the help of a back brace, although he has lost a couple inches off his height!
Oliver has been undertaking cycles of Chemotherapy, unfortunately his body has not been responding well, which led to Oliver being put on 'High Dose' Chemotherapy (VTD PACE) which involves being wired up for a week straight on constant chemo drips, in addition to around 30 pills a day.
All of this is in preparation for a Stem Cell Transplant(s).
As this disease is not curable, the aim is to achieve as long as a remission period as possible.
But, What if?
Some of you may have heard of Immunotherapy - the new "cure". This has been tested on a number of patients and the majority of these patients are now in full remission. Instead of killing every cell in your being, it boosts the bodies immune system to help you fight the cancer cells off. This treatment sounds perfect, but it's not available to Oliver unless he can cover the costs himself. As you can imagine this costs a lot of money.
How can you help?
These funds will help Oliver raise the funds he needs for immunotherapy.
From us all, we can only assure you that no donation is too small.
Please help Oliver beat this disease and get his life back.
https://uk.gofundme.com/oliver-needs-help-for-immunotherapy
Organizer
Martin Connor
Organizer