Brent Shanks - A good guy - Help him beat Cancer

$26,436 of $100,000 goal
Given by 218 generous donors in around 11 months

Help Brent Shanks and his family raise $100,000 for immunotherapy treatment to beat his rare cancer squamous cell carcinoma.

Nelson / Tasman

Tracey, Brent, Hannah and Emily, a loving family who lived a normal kiwi life. The girls are involved in dance and sport with Tracey coaching netball and Brent a keen Mountain biker. In June 2018 Brent was diagnosed with a very rare cancer, squamous cell carcinoma there are less than 6 recorded incidences in NZ per year. In the past 10 months, Brent has undergone 4 rounds of chemo, 33 rounds of radiotherapy and 4 surgeries. It has been a painful 10 months which has been dealt with by Brent and Tracey with amazing strength. Most recently Brent has undergone a lung and leg (lymph nodes) biopsy which confirmed secondary lung cancer which as a combination is even rarer.

Brent has started chemotherapy where for five days at a time he will be put on the drip for 6 – 8 hours each day but he also needs to take the drug Keytruda an immunotherapy treatment. Keytruda blocks the protective mechanism of the cancer cells and allows the immune system to destroy them.

This treatment will cost the family over $75,000, they have approached Pharmac to fund this drug but have been turned down. We are trying to raise $100,000 to pay for Brent's treatment, to bless this family and ease the financial burden of all associated costs.

Brent and his family have never asked for a Givealittle page as they have always been the family that gives to others but please help us raise money for Brent and his family to cover any of the associated costs with fighting this terrible disease.

We hope to keep you all involved with the progress that Brent is making and the joy that we can all provide to them through our gifts.

Heidi Tapper's involvement (page creator)

Tracey is one of the team at Home-Lee she is a great friend and work colleague. We are supporting Tracey and Brent in their fight against a very rare cancer specifically raising money for the family to get Brent immunotherapy treatment.

Use of funds

Any funds raised will be spent on the drug treatment Keytruda to fight this awful disease and to ease the financial burden of all associated treatment costs.

Read more

Latest update

Live streaming link  19 November 2019

Here is the link for the live streaming https://www.oneroomstreaming.com/view/

Share this update

Read 8 more updates

Read more

Latest donations

Malcolm Furness
Malcolm Furness on 07 Jan 2020
Fundraiser for Brent Shanks. Stinky Monkey Charity Forest Ride at Rabbit Island from Crew and Participants. Condolences to Tracey, Hannah and Emily and extended Family and Friends.
$400
Danspiration Zumba Fitness
Danspiration Zumba Fitness on 18 Dec 2019
Raffle proceeds from your Zumba community, with love.
$1,061
Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 06 Dec 2019
Sending love x
$20
Nikki W
Nikki W on 04 Dec 2019
Our thoughts are with you Tracey and family
$50
Sam
Sam on 02 Dec 2019
Private

Who's involved?

Heidi Tapper's avatar
Created by Heidi Tapper
Brent and Tracey Shanks's avatar
Paying to a verified bank account of Brent and Tracey Shanks
Page Moderated
The page has been checked by our team to make sure it complies with our terms and conditions.

Page Q&A

One question has been asked already. Check it out and ask yours here.

Any concerns?

Report this page
This campaign started on 30 Apr 2019 and ended on 1 Apr 2020.