Help Yemma Beat the Odds: 50 Years of Giving, Now She Needs Us

$53,578 of $99,537 goal

Given by 250 generous donors in around 7 months

Share Donate

Give Yemma access to a safer, more effective cancer treatment, and the chance for a longer life.

Paraparaumu Beach, Paraparaumu

+5 images

For over five decades, Yemma/Mum/Nonna/Mrs B has been a much-loved school and music teacher, mentor, and supporter of the Kāpiti community, shaping generations of learners with creativity and love.

Now she is facing her toughest challenge yet.

She has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. While this news is devastating, there is hope. A treatment called Daratumumab has shown superior efficacy in every measurable health outcome, including survival length and the reduction of possibly-permanent nerve-damage, which Yemma is already experiencing. Daratumumab is the treatment that will give Yemma a chance for a longer life.

Unlike other treatments, Daratumumab is not funded in New Zealand, which means we need your help.

The cost of this treatment is beyond our reach. Every contribution goes directly toward her medical costs, allowing her to access a drug that is already publicly funded in 49 other countries.

Yemma has spent decades in her various roles at Te Horo School, The Kāpiti Music Centre, and More To Life New Zealand supporting others to live a full and purposeful life. It's now our turn to get behind her with everything we can. We are asking for your financial support to give Yemma, who has given so much time to others, more time to live.

No amount is too small. Please share this page with the thousands of families and friends who Yemma has touched over the years, from New Zealand to the UK, USA, Australia, and Brazil.

Stefan Barsanti's involvement (page creator)

We are Yemma's 4 children: Aaron, Bengy, Stefan, and Bree. We have benefitted from her love, her fierce determination, her contagious enthusiasm, and her willingness to stand up for those who need it. Now we stand up ask for your support of her.

Use of funds

16/02

Funds will also go towards private doctor consultations and private medical expenses.

This amount will cover Yemma's first 7 months of Daratumumab treatment for multiple myeloma, which is not funded in New Zealand. She will likely need additional rounds, but we are focusing on the first for now. Please click on the link below to learn more.

Other page links

www.keepusliving.org.nz

Moving in the right direction!! 4 June 2026

Kia ora everyone! We write to update both the total amount of funds and Yemma's health status- both with good news :) We have decreased the total funds needed from $109,738 to $99,537 because of the surprising success of our most recent event: The Good Fight Quiz Night hosted by the Boundary Tap and Kitchen in late May. Because of the generosity of our local sponsors and all the quiz participants who attended, we raised $10,200 dollars for Yemma's treatment! We filled the house and the Kapiti community emptied their pockets to compete in the pub quiz and win and bid on amazing raffle and auction prizes. The night was full of energy, connection, belly laughs, friendly competition, and most importantly, a community coming together to support one of its own.

Our words of thanks will never be enough, but hopefully everyone there felt the love! We are especially thankful to all of the amazing community sponsors, whose generously-donated prizes and auction items took the fundraising to a whole new level of outbidding! Even our quizmaster, local contractor Bill Fitzpatrick (Fix-It-Fitzy) joined in on the raucous bidding, as Yemma's brother Allan upped the ante for each exciting item!

We have basked in the success of the night and are now brainstorming our next fundraising event: an art auction and dinner in August. Please reach out if you know of any artists (yourself included!) who would like to donate a piece of art to this next next effort!

Until then,

Thank you and love.

Share this update

Read 4 more updates