This page is to raise $27,825.00 to provide the cancer treatment that will extend the life of Ray Bloomfield.
Bay of Plenty
Ray Bloomfield has just retired from a life of service and care for others; as a pastor and, for the past 26 years, a Chaplain at Rotorua Hospital. In January this year he was diagnosed as having an aggressive incurable cancer (Mantel Cell Lymphoma), and he needs our help.
Ray is undergoing six cycles of chemotherapy and will be having an autologous bone marrow transplant – that means a bone marrow transplant using his own bone marrow. It is expected that this will get him into remission, however the cancer will come back. The public health service will only fund the first six sessions of Chemo - which will end in July this year. He can get more chemo but it will cost him $45,000.00. This could give him up to 2 years in remission so that he has more time with his wife, Pat, their children and grandchildren.
When this page was first launched, we were unaware of an additional $15,000.00 that Southern Cross charge for the services they provide over and above the cost of the actual medication.
Ray has trained many people in Clinical Pastoral Education. He has also been very involved in training Voluntary Chaplaincy Assistants. With retirement he was looking forward to establishing a voluntary chaplaincy service with Rotorua Hospice ... but his time is running out.
Of the $45,000.00 needed for the additional treatment that will extend his life, Ray and his wife Pat, have been able to come up with $18,500.00. So the sum we are hoping to raise through this Give-a-little appeal is the remaining $26,500.00 (plus 5% Give-a-little service fee = $27,825.00).
Ray is a long-time friend and colleague, who opened his heart to me concerning his cancer, including the need for a large sum of money to provide the treatment that will give him an extended remission.
The main goal is to raise $27,825.00 and will be spent entirely on chemotherapy for Ray Bloomfield. Should there be donations in excess of this target, or if things don't go to plan, the money will be entrusted to Ray's wife, Pat.
Ray is with the Lord. 6th April 2021 6 April 2021
Dear friends
It is my sad duty to tell you that our friend Ray died this morning. His family have posted the following on Facebook.
"Hi Everyone, Aaron, Joanna, Bex and Pat here. We gathered around Ray at 9:15am this morning as he took his final breaths. He is finally free and getting that great rest he so deserves.
"We want to thank everyone who sent messages over the last few days. They were a real blessing to him and us. Thank you to all those who impacted his life in a positive way. He would tell you himself that the last two years, whilst hard, have been a journey filled with so much love, laughter and dad jokes-a-plenty.
"We are taking family time today to say our final farewells and then will be receiving calls and visitors as Dad will be home ready for visitors over the next couple of days."
In a following message the details for the celebration of Ray's life were posted ...
"Friday 9th April at 7.30 to 9.00pm - "Ray Rave" (pre-funeral open-mic tributes) Living Well Church, 47 Biak St, Rotorua. This 'poroporoaki' is a time when anyone's tributes are welcomed (the family will be bringing their tributes at the main service the following day)
"Saturday 10th April at 1pm - Funeral for Raymond Bloomfield (The Main event) at Living Well Church, 47 Biak St, Rotorua.
"For those unable to attend, the main event will be live streamed - details to follow."
As I (David) had the privilege to open this Give-a-little page, I will close it in a week or two. But let me say again how wonderful your support and gifts were for Ray and Pat. She reminded me again this morning that we sought to give Ray two more years with his family - and we did just that. He has lived it brilliantly, and his family have been awesome. So thank you, thank you, once again.
Pat's email address is: patbloomfield12@gmail.com (I pass that on to you with her permission).
With love
David Collins
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.