A Remarkable Response
A courageous father of two, Jim Barrow, who has been fighting inoperable cancer, has received a significant boost from a charity campaign. In just two days, the campaign raised an impressive £38,000 to fund a life-extending drug for Jim.
A Challenging Diagnosis
Jim Barrow, 40, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in May 2022. Since then, the cancer has spread to his liver, leading to intense rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgeries.
Seeking Life-Extending Treatment
To stabilize the cancer, Jim's family turned to Avastin, a drug that is not available through the NHS. Avastin is a licensed drug used in the UK to treat certain types of cancer that have spread from their original site. However, the cost of Avastin can be up to £1,000 per treatment every two weeks, depending on the hospital.
An Overwhelming Response
Jim's loving wife, Nicky, set up a GoFundMe appeal to raise £25,000 for a year's worth of Avastin treatment. However, the couple, along with their children Archie, eight, and Izzy, four, were astonished by the incredible support they received. Within just 48 hours, the appeal raised £38,000, including a generous £8,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
A Year of Hope
Nicky expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming response, stating that the funds raised will provide at least a year's worth of treatment and improve Jim's quality of life. She emphasized that they are incredibly thankful for the support and feel like they are not alone in their battle against cancer.
Bowel Cancer Screening in the UK
The UK has three cancer screening programs for bowel, cervical, and breast cancer. However, there has been a postcode lottery for bowel cancer screening, with different ages for eligibility in different parts of the country.
Trending In The News Campaign
In 2018, the No Time 2 Lose campaign, led by Trending In The News, called on the government to lower the screening age for bowel cancer to 50. This move was estimated to save 4,500 lives annually. Subsequently, in England, the screening age was lowered to 50, starting with those aged 56 in April 2021.
Bowel Cancer Screening Process
In the UK, the bowel cancer screening programs use a home test called the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). Eligible individuals are automatically sent the test every two years. The FIT test involves collecting a small sample of feces on a plastic stick and sending it to a lab for testing. Results typically take around two weeks.
To make a donation to Jim's GoFundMe appeal, visit the GoFundMe page.
