Monday 30th July 2018

Kelly Stabb raises £30,000 for BCW and launches own appeal to save her life

An urgent appeal is underway to help fund treatment to prolong the life of a young mother and Police Officer from Paignton diagnosed with advanced stage four bowel cancer who recently raised over £30,000 for Bowel Cancer West.

Kelly Stabb was just 38 when she received the devastating news in January 2017 after feeling unwell for several weeks. Despite several operations and rounds of chemotherapy the cancer spread to her liver and she was described as a ‘very complicated case’. This didn’t stop Kelly selflessly rallying her friends and family at the start of 2018 with a view to raising £10,000 for local charity Bowel Cancer West (BCW) and the Ricky Grant Unit at Torbay Hospital where she has spent time receiving treatment.

Kelly Said:

“I had this overwhelming feeling to do something to prevent others going through the same experience as me. BCW have a crucial role to increase survival rates of bowel cancer by funding advances in patient diagnosis and care through further training, research and raising awareness of bowel cancer and it just seemed obvious that I had to support them.”

Kelly managed to triple her original target through support from local businesses as well as family and friends including Steve Taylor who ran seven marathons in seven days. A team of Devon and Cornwall Police cyclists also rode from Exeter to Land’s End and Kelly organised a ball for 150 people at which her sons Jake (aged 10) and Luke (aged 8) DJ’d for several hours. Many of her other supporters, including her husband Simon, also ran marathons having never done more than a few miles before, and six-year-old Ellie Hulance donated her hair to a child with cancer, raising £700 in the process.

Bowel Cancer West Executive Director, Ed Sinclair said:

“Kelly is one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet. Her positive energy and enthusiasm to help others is just incredible. In raising over £30,000, she becomes our highest ever fundraiser and we are extremely grateful for the support she has given us, not only financially but also by helping raise awareness of the UK’s second biggest cause of cancer related death.
The funds raised will go directly into specific projects including; research to explore technologies that can be used to support young bowel cancer patients, a series of genetics lead research projects at Exeter and Cardiff University and additional training for medical staff in the south west. What Kelly is going through is so tough for her and her family and the focus must now be on getting the support she needs so she can enjoy precious time with them.”

Unfortunately, the cancer has become very aggressive and Kelly has been told she can’t be cured but that life-prolonging treatments are available. £173,000 is required to fund a drug (which Kelly recently discovered can’t be prescribed to her) that could be hugely beneficial. Kelly’s friend, Nicola Fisher, has set up an appeal to directly help Kelly and this has raised nearly £7,000 so far.

Nicola said:

“I know Kelly would never want to ask for money for a personal cause which is why I am setting up this page. She has her two gorgeous boys, a wonderful husband, family and friends who all love her dearly. She is certainly not ready to give this fight up so let’s all do what we can to give her every chance.”

Please donate what you can and share this page to support Kelly who has given so much to others already.

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