The dad of a 17-year-old Jamaican girl with leukaemia is appealing for help funding the urgent bone marrow transplant needed to save her life.
Lee Walker’s 17-year-old daughter Lee-Anna was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, in February.
Lee, who is British and lives in Lower Stondon, has brought her over on a medical visa to get care not available back home – but the bills have already eaten through the family’s savings, and Lee is having to ask for help.
“You can just imagine as a parent the dark, lonely place I’m in as we speak,” said Lee, 45.
“I do not wish this on my worst enemy.
“Lee-Anna is an amazing, academically gifted and vibrant girl with everything to live for and a full and happy life ahead.
“She’s not entitled to NHS treatment as she’s not a resident in the country, so she has to be treated and cared for privately.
“We’re looking at £75,000 – it could be a bit more but that’s the ballpark figure we’re looking at.”
Lee-Anna goes into Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for treatment every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. She has completed two cycles of chemotherapy so far.
Lee’s appeals have already won the attention of West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, who has donated US$20,000 and helped to spread the word on social media.
“He saw on Instagram and he decided he wanted to lend all the support possible,” said Lee.
“It has helped tremendously.”
To raise more funds, Lee has arranged a black tie fundraising ball at the Sun Hotel in Hitchin on June 17, and two days later he and eight others are going to do a tandem skydive at Sibson Airfield near Peterborough.
Lee said: “I’m absolutely terrified of heights, but this is just one of those things – it doesn’t matter what you have to do for your child.
“But eight others have volunteered their lives to do it with me. Please help sponsor these brave young men and women who are risking their lives to save hers.”
For more details or to donate see crowdfunding.justgiving.com/joanne-hewitt.
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