Help Lucy Drake to walk again and battle her cancer

We want to help Lucy drake to beat her cancer and walk again. We would love your help too. You will you be doing a fantastic deed for a well-deserving family through a time of crisis.

Lucy is a normal, fun-loving, kind and generous 15-year-old girl. Just a few months ago she was also a completely fit and healthy teenager who loved exercise and working out each day.

But in early June 2018, she noticed some numbness and tingling in her feet. Over the next few weeks after visiting the doctor and by the time she got to see a neurologist she was struggling to walk. The next day she was in Tauranga hospital undergoing an MRI when they found a growth in her spine that was causing the temporary paralysis. She was rushed by helicopter to Starship hospital for emergency surgery, to remove the growth and find out exactly what it was.

Lucy’s family are from the community of Omokoroa (near Tauranga) and they are well known as the people who are always the first to help others. Hence, the whole community, family and friends were waiting with their fingers crossed, hoping and praying that the tumour was benign.

The news that came next floored everyone. Lucy has been diagnosed with a very aggressive and extremely rare form of cancer. She has commenced 6 weeks of Chemotherapy and Radiation. During this time, she is trying to keep up with her school work at Starship, while also going through intense rehabilitation to learn to walk again. For now, she remains wheelchair-bound but if Lucy is one thing, she is determined. And she is determined to walk again plus to beat this cancer.

As you will imagine, this is a huge amount of energy-sapping treatment for a bubbly 15-year-old girl and the pressure on her family is immense. While her family ask for nothing, they would be the first to help you or I if we needed help. We hope that you will help us to help them. They deserve it.

Lucy’s Dad is a tiler and Mum is an early childhood teacher. They have gone from two full-time incomes to both working half-time as they do a week of work, followed by a week off work to be with Lucy in Starship Hospital. The financial pressure is adding up, as is all of the travel to and from Auckland while also looking after their other two children.

Lucy is a fighter. She is going to fight hard to battle this cancer and get on her feet again. She needs her parents with her to support her through this. Your donation will ease the financial pressure on the Drake family, helping them to spend more time with her and to keep on fighting together.

All donations will go directly to the Drake family. Thank you for helping... every little bit counts.