Help Kooge get access to unfunded chemo for brain cancer

Some of you may already know of Michael Kooge - his voice is everywhere throughout the country often, sometimes hosting a show on More FM, reading news live from Newshub on all Mediaworks radio channels NZ wide, or perhaps you listened to him reading news for Jay-Jay, Mike and Dom for 10 years on The Edge! If you ever listen to the radio, you probably know his voice.

Kooge has already survived one cancer several years ago (Suspected Stage 3 Melanoma) for which he has thankfully been given the all clear of recently. Unfortunately, about a year and a half ago, Kooge was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, which is a type of brain tumour with a very bad prognosis. There's a guaranteed mortality rate of 95% at 15 months after diagnosis, and Kooge has just hit 21 months, which is amazing! Unfortunately, due to treatment effects, Kooge isn't able to work full time currently, and cancer has a lot of unexpected costs associated with it, even within the public health system. Kooge has also hit a point where the only effective treatment is unfunded and costs $80k per year!! If you'd like to read a little more about Kooge and his journey, you can check out his page "Kooge" on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkooge/

Now lets just think about that situation for a minute - you've survived one cancer (and the awful treatment that goes with it), only to be hit with another, even more serious cancer diagnosis, and all the financial stress that goes with that.

Then, add to that the most recent terrible news that this family have received. Michael's dad John was recently rushed to hospital and diagnosed with cancer too, pancreatic. This is following John already having a massive heart attack and stroke a year ago and fighting his way back from very bad odds of survival, to spend more precious time with his family.

This probably seems like an improbable series of awful events to happen to one family, but unfortunately, this is the reality of the last few years for the Kooge family. Unbelievable really, and the amount of stress the family are under is almost unimaginable. And we all know how dangerous stress can be to anyone’s body.

The purpose of this givealittle is firstly is to help support Kooge financially through this difficult time. This money will be spent on allowing the family to spend time together without financial stress, as well as on all the unfunded treatment needed for Michael (unfunded chemo, transport costs, Tilray medicinal cannabis etc).

If you'd like to support the family and/or would like some wonderful art for your wall, Kooge is also a great photographer, and has a online store where he sells his prints (includes free NZ shipping) - check them out here: http://www.heykooge.com/