Thanks to everyone who gave here support to John and his battle with cancer. His treatment was going really well and he was due to have his operation early January but unfortunately a scan just before the operation showed it had spread. He managed to fly home to New Zealand to spend what Time he had with his son. On Friday the 8th of April he lost his battle.
John arrived in the UK on July 11th. He has now commenced his chemotherapy which will last for 18 weeks. At this stage he will then have surgery to remove the tumor at the top of his stomach. He is being supported by his family in the UK who are able to take him to appointments and treatments
We have been hard at work organizing fundraising for John's treatment. Local schools are running mufti days to help support John. Last week we had a bake sale at the local soccer grounds where Johns son plays, this raised $1400. There will be a Rugby evening on August 15th at the Papakura police station, including raffles and spot prizes. On August 22nd there will be a garage sale and cake stall at the Drury school hall. We will also be having a car wash and sausage sizzle in Pukekohe on September 6th. The police have been an enormous support to John and his family at this time, many thanks to them. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to John's treatment fund. We have been blown away by the generosity and kindness.
I just want to say thank you to everyone. I'm truly humbled by everyone's kind thoughs and help. I honestly never thought for one moment I had a chance at beating this cancer after my diagnosis in NZ. However seeing your messages and watching people donate time and money to me so I can hold my son again and perhaps watch him grow up is beyond words. I read every message and will never forget the generosity and kindness people have shown my family and I. I will battle hard to make sure the time, money and your thoughts and sacrefices are not wasted on me.
I don't have words for how much all of you mean to me to give me the gift of time with my son, wife and family.
My love to you all
John Connolly and Family.
01/01/1967
