A High Beech woman is preparing herself for a monumental open water swim to help raise money for potentially lifesaving surgery for a friend.
Michelle Shaw will don her goggles and swimming suit to take on a 7.5 kilometre to fundraise for her 25-year-old friend, Ria, who desperately needs private treatment for a cancerous brain tumour.
In December of 2018 Ria suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed on a family holiday in Devon.
Initial scans discovered a large bleed to the brain, which was causing Ria severe weakness in the left side of her body, caused by a large brain tumour.
Doctors could not establish how long she had suffered from the tumour as Ria had, up until that point, shown no symptoms and had recently graduated from Loughborough University where she had played football to a high standard.
Soon after leaving university, Ria had been accepted into her dream job as a constable for Essex Police following a stint travelling around Africa just a few months before.
After a six-hour surgery in Plymouth Hospital to drain the bleed and remover the tumour Ria's friends and family though the worst was over.
However, the devastating news followed. Final examination results found Ria was suffering from Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 – a fast-growing aggressive brain tumour with a poor prognosis.
The common length of survival is 12-18 months, with fewer than 3-5 per cent of people diagnosed surviving longer than five years.
Michelle said: “The past 18 months have been a whirlwind. From rehabilitation to relearning how to walk and use her left arm, to intensive treatment including six weeks radiotherapy as well as six months chemotherapy. Throughout this difficult time Ria has remained her usual positive, humble self, continuing to bring fun and laughter everywhere she goes.
“Unfortunately after only 10 months tumour free, a scan in June 2020 showed regrowth of the original tumour. Three weeks ago, Ria underwent another surgery to remove it at Queens Hospital, Romford.
“The options in the NHS are now limited for Ria. After extensive research and guidance from medical professionals, the most promising treatment option available to Ria at this time is Immunotherapy. This highly specialised method of treatment encourages your immune system to recognise and attack tumour cells.
“This specific Immunotherapy is not available in the UK, only in Germany and the US. We want to try everything possible to give Ria the best opportunity to stop another regrowth. We have decided to travel to Germany for Ria to start Immunotherapy as soon as possible.
“As you can imagine, this is a costly private treatment so are asking for your support in fundraising towards Ria’s treatment. We would be very grateful for any contribution you are able to make.”
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