Republished from The Somerset Guardian
Big-hearted residents and supermarket staff are rallying to help an 11-year-old cancer sufferer whose parents are remortgaging their home to pay for her care.
Last week, the Somerset Guardian reported how the parents of Nikita Moore, from Peasedown St John, had taken the decision to pay for therapy at the Issels clinic in San Diego, California.
This week, Tracey and Nicholas Trezise revealed that staff at Midsomer Norton’s Tesco have agreed to set up a collection point for donations from members of the public. Collection buckets are now in place at the customer services desk.
Mr and Mrs Trezise need to raise $15,000, about £8,000, to meet their target of $41,000, about £22,000. They say it could help Nikita, who has been diagnosed four times with various cancers during her short life.
Mrs Trezise said other people had also responded to the family’s appeal: “A chap came to my door on Monday from Westfield and gave me £40. I thought that was really lovely.
“And a magazine called First has agreed to give us more than £1,500. ITV has also rung us - they want to put us on the ITV news.”
Yvonne Williamson, a spokeswoman for Tesco, said: “We were so moved by what we read in the Somerset Guardian that we felt we should help.”
Despite the help offered, the family believe they may still have to remortgage their home.
“That is definite,” said Mrs Trezise. “I don’t think we could raise the amount of money we need otherwise.”
Nikita was first diagnosed with cancer in 1999, after she developed a tumour on the top of her head. Nearly five years later, she then had to be treated for cancer in the lung.
Her parents hope she will be able to receive the controversial Issels therapy, which is so far unproven and unapproved for use on patients in the UK. The alternative therapy was developed by Doctor Josef Issels in the 1950s. Family members have pledged their support to the appeal, while fundraising is also taking place at the school.
Last week’s story reported the couple needed £41,000 to pay for the treatment.
“An error was made when we were talking to the clinic, and we apologise,” said Mrs Trezise.
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