A Shillingstone woman whose mouth ulcer turned out to be head and neck cancer is inviting people to ‘sponsor’ her through six weeks of radiotherapy, with all proceeds going to charity.
Marie Campbell, known as Ali, is currently undergoing the treatment following major head and neck surgery. And thanks to her friends, family and a Just Giving page, she has already managed to raise over £1000 in ‘sponsorship’ for Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF).
Ali, 51, a crochet designer, teacher and blogger, said: “I don’t have the strength or the ability to run a marathon due to my current situation, but I will be running a marathon of sorts in the next few months, so I thought why not take the opportunity to raise some money for this great charity?”
Ali is self-employed and unable to work was at the time of her surgery, but DCCF saved her “financial life” by sending her money to repair her car and pay for her petrol to and from the hospital.
“They also enabled me to buy some expensive silicone gel to use on my neck scar and they help other cancer patients by paying their bills, their mortgages, or sending them on much needed breaks, when they really need it most,” she explained.
“I’m just glad my radiotherapy, or ‘Radio Gaga’, as I’m calling it, can help a few more people who are going through cancer like me.”
Ali went to see her doctor in March this year when a mouth ulcer refused to heal.
The doctor wasn’t happy with the wound and referred her to the Max Facial unit at Dorchester.
Within two weeks a biopsy revealed she had head and neck cancer and required immediate surgery.
Ali said: “It took two teams of surgeons 12-and-a -half hours to work on me and I was in a medically induced coma for four days.
“After cutting away the cancer they took flesh and bone from my left shoulder and reconstructed the top left of my mouth.”
Six weeks after the surgery Ali and her husband Ian were told that while the op had been a success, the cancer had ‘kissed’ her bone, meaning she would need to undergo radiotherapy, every week day for six weeks.
Ali said: “It was a blow. But I knew it was necessary if I really wanted to kick cancer.”
“It was also around that time that I came across Dorset Cancer Care Foundation on the internet.
“You don’t realise until you actually have cancer that it can make everyday things like paying the mortgage and the bills and even affording the weekly shop, incredibly difficult.
“I was deeply impressed by this group of ordinary people who raise money to help cancer patients’ facing financial hardships during their treatment.”
Ali has so far raised £1100 for DCCF, and while her current treatment at Poole Hospital continues until mid-August, her future prognosis is bright.
She said: “I have gone a few steps backwards in my recovery since the zapping has started with mouth sores, ulcers and ‘sunburn’ on my face, but that’s a small price to pay.
“I have had great support, not only from the DCCF but from my family, friends and crochet pupils too.
“Once the zapping ends, I will be on the home straight and looking forward to my next appointment with my consultants, approximately six weeks later.
“Going forward I also want to do all I can to raise awareness of the more uncommon cancers like mine and encourage people to get checked out straight away, as soon as they think something isn’t quite right.”
Incredibly, cancer isn’t the only battle Ali has had to overcome. In 2004 she suffered severe nerve damage to her right ankle when she was forced to flee the tsunami in Phuket, Thailand, whilst on honeymoon with her husband Ian.
Four operations later the ankle is still damaged and both of them will never forget that day, or the aftermath.
Anne Rowland, Fundraising Trustee at Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, said: “I think, like most people, I was a little taken aback and emotional when I found out what Ali is doing for DCCF.
“To be able to face such a mammoth operation and long treatment – and still have to the time to think about others – is nothing short of heroic.”
“Her bravery and thoughtfulness will help many other people facing cancer here in Dorset.”
Ali can be sponsored during her treatment at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/radiogagachallenge
Ali has also designed and written a pattern for DCCF, a Crochet Heart pin that can be sold to raise funds for the charity. She has distributed the pattern to her pupils via email and her newsletter so they can get crocheting.
Anyone wishing to crochet Ali’s heart pattern for DCCF can access it at: http://www.gethookedoncrochet.co.uk/crochetforcancer/
For more information on DCCF and how you can support the charity and Dorset’s cancer patients visit: www.dccf.co.uk/
Picture captions: Ali undergoing ‘Radio Ga Ga’ with her lucky rabbit masco, for which she is being sponsored to help other cancer patients in Dorset.
Media information: Debbie Granville at Deep South Media on 07884 657782 or email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk