Charity event being held in aid of Gulf War veteran facing brain cancer
A fundraising event in aid of a Gulf War veteran from Walsall who has brain cancer and needs £250,000 to fund lifesaving private treatment is being held on Friday.
The night at the Old Hall Snooker Club and Q Lounge in Revival Street, Bloxwich, is the latest in a series of events to raise money for Leslie 'Ava' Athersmith who has had surgery this year to remove a Gliosarcoma brain tumour – the 50-year-old was diagnosed in March.
Leslie has previously had surgery to remove most of the cluster, alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy to slow down its growth once again, but these measures only work temporarily and the illness has a general prognosis of eight to 18 months.
He now works as a staff sergeant and platoon commander for the Military Provost Guard Service at Donnington but started off in the Staffordshire regiment in 1988 and was one of the youngest serving soldiers in the Gulf War.
His wife Michelle started auctioning off her possessions including camera equipment to help raise £250,000 for DC Vax L immunotherapy treatment which is only available privately in the UK.
A charity football and cricket game have already been held and the fund total currently stands at over £33,000.
The ticket-only event will be held from 7pm until late on Friday – for more information call Janet on 07943 554170.
