Fighting Forward Through Cancer Treatment

I am Brad (otherwise nicknamed TANK around my martial arts community).

I was diagnosed with myeloma in late 2024. I'm on a heavy chemotherapy treatment plan and my body is being hit hard by it. I can’t work as much as I need to and the family is struggling to make ends meet.

Can you help?

What is myeloma?

Myeloma is an incurable form of blood cancer which attacks plasma cells in the bone marrow. It causes painful lesions on bones as well as other symptoms.

There are various therapies to get the cancer under control, allowing the person with myeloma to return to good health while the cancer is in remission.

How’s our life looking at the moment?

I began chemotherapy in March 2025. With each round, my body gets weaker with the side effects of the chemo.

The chemo will take at least six months, and then there’s time needed after that for my body to get strong again.

Increasingly, I cannot physically manage my work, but as a casual I don't get paid sick leave.

Stephanie, my wife, is working as much as she can also, but with the 24/7 care of young adult children who have disabilities and mental health issues, there’s only so much Stephanie can do.

We need both our incomes to make ends meet, so the time we have to take off work is causing growing financial stress.

Unfortunately, no benefits will cover our basic expenses (rent is expensive), nor can we get emergency relief quickly when bills are overwhelming.

The whole Bessell family (we still have three children living at home) is under strain.

We face a daily battle to stay positive. The activities that bring me joy are mostly out of reach right now. All the family are struggling in this battle against cancer, each in their own way.

What can you do to help?

I am determined to Fight Forward for my family. My immediate goals are to do all I can to get back to good health so I can care for my family in all their diverse needs.

This financial appeal is about getting help from friends and caring strangers to achieve those goals.

I have dreams for the future, things I long to do in however much time I can reclaim from the myeloma.

These include:

• looking after my family (that’s always my top priority)

• making music – songwriting, playing with my band, and being able to record and perform

• returning to martial arts, and

• creating community with the goal of helping others

My family needs your kindness. Will you be part of helping me to Fight Forward for a healthy, meaningful future?