Save father of 2 from heartbreaking cancer return

Have you been affected by cancer?

Matthew Dons (in the photo reading to his daughter) has had his life shaped in every aspect over the past 6 years by the horrific diagnosis of Stage 4, terminal bowel cancer. Matthew was given a life expectancy of months, not years. He was just 36 at the time, and he and his wife had the impossible task of explaining what was going on to their two young children (then around 4 and 8 years old)

For his kids’ sake Matthew dedicated his time to educating himself and was relentless in searching out options to stay alive longer. He went through multiple surgeries, and every hellish treatment that could give him more precious time with them. Matthew was able to make it through to “No Evidence of Disease”, thanks to cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments he received in Japan, and the generosity of donors like you.

Through that time Matthew has challenged himself to keep progressing and do more. From training in Ninjutsu, and home schooling his son to coaching entrepreneurs and professionals in business and marketing! But the thing which I think really shows Matthew’s core values is how much he puts in to helping other cancer patients from around the world who need support.

Sadly, just as Matthew’s work to help other patients was gaining momentum and got a foothold in the media, he had the devastating scan result he'd hoped never to see again - the cancer had spread very rapidly, and a brutal chemo regime started immediately.

So far the cancer has started to respond to a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but there’s little hope or evidence for the treatment working longer term for this type and stage of cancer. It’s also coming at a huge cost: the most precious days with his family are taken away by the hellish side effects of chemotherapy. The only hope really still there for Matthew depends on raising the money for the truly amazing and cutting edge intensive immunotherapy available in Japan.

The total goal of £20,000 would cover the cost of an intensive adoptive-cell immunotherapy treatment in Japan. A process which includes Cell collection, Cell preparations of NK-cells, T-cells and Dendritic cells, and a Molecular targeted therapy drug to mark the cancer cells.

When you share and donate, you’re helping Matthew carry on reading to his kids, supporting his wife, and building his non-profit organisation to help other cancer patients. You would be giving him life, and helping hundreds (possibly thousands) of cancer patients around the world!

I urgently need help to raise this money, and I want to show you, and Matthew just how much of an inspiration he is, by facing some of my fears and learning to do things I have always thought were impossible for me.

In November, I decided I would learn to brave the winter seas (for my friend overseas) and began by submerging in an ice bath, followed by a couple dips at local bays.

In December I pushed through some major social anxieties and joined a local Chill swimmers group and joined them in the sea on Christmas Eve. I also began following a “Couch to 5k” fitness program and started running for the first time in my life.

This year I will keep going to share my friend’s story. Every donation and every share is helping Matthew to stay alive, and is appreciated with the whole of my heart. Thank you.