Building hope for young cancer sufferer

Dave Gapper, of Blenheim, is selling his building services to raise money for alternative cancer treatment for nine-year-old Phoenix Stafford, of Nelson.

The licensed builder has put two days of his skills up for auction, along with a labourer's time, on Trade Me. His mother and Phoenix's grandmother were best friends and the families were close, he said.

After only 12 hours online, his fundraiser had over 350 views and the first bid came in at $500.

Phoenix's mother, Renea Pidduck, said on January 4 that the family learned that chemotherapy and radiation had failed to control a rare cancer on her son's spinal cord. In September, 2010 this was diagnosed as Ewings sarcoma.

Miss Pidduck was now pinning her hopes on alternative treatment, initially with a Nelson GP using minerals, herbs and supplements.

Family and friends had already raised $2500 to help pay for a $6000 blood test which would help identify which treatments would be most effective for her son, she said. For two hours the previous weekend they stood with collection buckets and posters in the centre of Nelson.

Phoenix had not been to school for 16 months, could not go out in the sun, could not swim and was pretty much stuck inside, Miss Pidduck said. However, he was a normal kid who enjoyed playing with his friends and loved his motorbike.

On Friday, Phoenix took a scenic flight over the Marlborough Sounds donated by Picton Float Plane. The company's owner-operator, Al Gray, said he was happy to "give the little guy a lift and help him do something he had always wanted to do".

Money for Phoenix's treatment is being raised via Facebook and can also be paid to the Phoenix Stafford Appeal, Westpac 03-0703-0829333-000. Fairfax NZ

- © Fairfax NZ News

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