Help us to Save Ollie's Life
Fighting to save Ollie from Cancer
Imagine being told that someone you love is going to die. Worse, that person is only 38 years old and has their whole life ahead of them.
What would you do? How would you feel? Would you do everything in your power to help?
We are Ryan, Edona, Will, James, Hannah, Candice, David and Melody. We are in this desperate position right now and we are turning to you for help to get Ollie through his cancer nightmare.
This is Ollie. Larger than life, witty and genuinely beloved by all who cross his path. He is one of the kindest, most caring people you could ever meet. He is a son, a brother and an uncle. He is our best friend. He is our family.
He is also someone who has been dealt the harshest of hands time and again but has carried each blow with such strength, resilience and grace, it has left us in awe. And in bits.
Early this year, Ollie was diagnosed with a very rare type of colorectal cancer. It was initially thought to be completely treatable. His doctors did not seem overly concerned when he had several of his appointments and scans cancelled or postponed due to COVID -19 and the first lockdown. He was a fit and healthy young man so no-one thought he would have to face further complications. After brutal rounds of chemo and radio we hoped and prayed that the worst was over. However it was not to be. Six months on from his initial diagnosis, we got the devastating news that the tumor had grown at a terrifying rate. The doctors were caught entirely unaware - they did not see it coming.
Ollie has spent most of this year in unimaginable pain. He has been unable to sit down and can only lie on his stomach. Any movement is accompanied by horrific pain. To save his life, there are still a few options available, but most of these will not be covered under the NHS. The main option for Ollie is a radical life-changing / life-saving surgery which only a handful of surgeons in the world can perform. Surgery might be brutal but it is a chance.
Here is where all of us come in. As you can imagine, cancer has not only destroyed Ollie’s health but it has also depleted his financial resources. He has been unable to work the majority of the year and as he is essentially self-employed, his fund has taken a downward turn. The expenses have been many and frequent for him, his family and his girlfriend. Whilst we cannot help him physically overcome cancer, we can certainly help remove any financial obstacles in his way.
Your donations will go towards several things:
- Additional consultations and treatments with the specialist surgeons in his area of cancer, as our NHS is unable to cover that.
- Possible surgeries and treatments. For example, there are clinical trials available that have proven successful in treating Ollie's type of cancer but it may involve travelling to the US and accommodating Ollie for the duration of the trial.
- His god-send girlfriend, who has been looking after Ollie night and day has had to abandon her customer facing work as the risk of bringing COVID-19 home is too great. As she has been of invaluable support, we want to provide her with the means to continue taking care of Ollie and not worry about having to go back to work.
- Flights and accommodation if overseas travel is required.
Ollie is a fiercely proud and independent lad who would never ask for help, so we are asking on his behalf. Without your support the odds are grim and our boy will likely not make it. We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to help him. We are asking you to please join us. We appreciate that not everyone is in a position to donate but if we didn’t ask you wouldn’t know that one of our own needs help. In the end it could have been any one of us. Cancer does not discriminate. No donation is too small. No act of kindness goes unnoticed.
David Patterson, Ollie's father, is set as the beneficiary of this Gofundme campaign, and all your donations will be sent directly to David's account.
Thank you so very much for your support.