EMMA'S FIGHT FOR LIFE - Urgent Help Needed to Fund Offshore Cancer Treatment

$419,303 of $500,000 goal

Given by 3338 generous donors in one year

Help Emma & George fight their biggest fight yet, with funding needed to support urgent life extending cancer treatment offshore.

Wanaka, Otago

+29 images

The idea of mortality is a strange thing to process at 30. Unimaginable for most, but something our sister Emma Holden had to confront in 2019.

For over 5 years, Emma has been privately battling an incurable blood cancer; Multiple Myeloma. Most wouldn’t know she has this, despite countless treatments & setbacks, she doesn’t complain & refuses to be defined by cancer. She just gets on & does it.

EMMA'S JOURNEY

Emma sits in the 1% of myeloma patients being diagnosed so young at 30. This was particularly devastating as we also lost our Dad, Tom to cancer at age 46.

She has undergone continuous treatment travelling between various hospitals; Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch & Dunedin

- Several rounds of chemotherapy & radiation

- Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

- Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

- 2x Clinical Trials for new-age treatments

- Surgery’s

Plus everything that comes with myeloma; fractures, pneumonia, shingles, list goes on

Despite the above she sets an example we could learn from; life's precious, unpredictable & she lives like everyday is a gift, not a given right.

HOW TO HELP

If you know Emma & George, you’ll know that asking for help doesn’t come easily to them. This page represents a deeply private battle made public. This is their biggest fight yet. EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS

James Holden's involvement (page creator)

Emma is our oldest sister along with George her husband & our brother-in-law.

Use of funds

They need to IMMEDIATELY fund upwards of a whopping $400,000 for OVERSEAS TREATMENT (in China). This is her best chance at prolonging this disease and extending her time with us all.

Some Good News 22 October 2025

Good news! Emma is back home after successfully completing her third Car T attempt.

Her cancer markers have dropped significantly, the lowest they’ve been in the past few years. She will be traveling back to Shanghai early Nov for another check up and to work out what ongoing treatment to be on to keep her levels as low as possible for as long as possible.

She’s managing her energy levels, but otherwise feeling good…best she’s felt in months! Long may it continue. Will keep you all posted after the next Shanghai trip.

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Latest donations

Guest Donor on 13 Jan 2026

$20

Guest Donor on 04 Jan 2026

Hi Emma, We are Nepalese visiting Wanaka and saw your poster in one cafe. We can’t do much, but a small token to support you. Wish you good health and successful recovery.

$15