Stafford cancer patient’s US fundraiser hits £21k in two days

A cancer patient will be able to fly to America for specialist treatment after £21,000 was raised for her in just two days.

Madi Foster, from Stafford, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer – adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) – that was found in her left kidney last summer.

The 20-year-old had an operation to remove a tumour weeks after her diagnosis, but she was told in February the cancer had returned and she might only have 18 months to live.

After learning about an experimental treatment in the US, she and her family launched a fundraiser on Friday and the target was smashed in just 48 hours.

Ms Foster told BBC Radio Stoke, she was “incredibly shocked” and that her phone had been inundated with messages of support from friends, including some she had not heard from for years.

“I didn’t realise I was that well liked to be perfectly honest,” she said.

Before she was diagnosed, Miss Foster suffered with a number of symptoms for two years, including sweats, high heart rate and stomach pains.

However, when she had surgery to remove the tumour, she suffered septic shock and had to be put into an induced coma.

She later recovered though and was able to spend Christmas at home with her family.

When the cancer returned in February, she was told her only treatment option in the UK would be chemotherapy.

But she and her parents Nicola and Craig learned about the success of an experimental and free treatment in Washington DC.

The fundraiser was set up with a target of £20,000, but the family did not expect it to be as successful as it was.

Asked how she was feeling, Ms Foster said: “Very happy. I’m always very happy but I’m just buzzing, like I’ve just come off a rollercoaster.”

Her mum Nicola said there were a lot of tears shed when they hit their target, adding: “We were just completely overwhelmed by the generosity of not only friends and family, but just complete strangers.”

Ms Foster’s dad Craig described it as “heartwarming” and said it had restored his faith in humanity.

“There are some really good people out there,” he said.

He added further fundraising events would be taking place as Ms Foster would likely need a follow-up trip.