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Kevin Carey fundraising appeal for pioneering brain tumour treatment surpasses target

The online fund to raise money for Kevin Carey's pioneering treatment has surpassed the £205,000 target.
The online fund to raise money for Kevin Carey's pioneering treatment has surpassed the £205,000 target. The online fund to raise money for Kevin Carey's pioneering treatment has surpassed the £205,000 target.

A fundraising effort to raise money for pioneering treatment for a Co Antrim man with aggressive brain tumour has surpassed the £205,000 target in under a week.

Natasha Carey issued a heartfelt plea last Tuesday to give her husband Kevin a fighting chance of beating cancer through costly immunotherapy.

By Saturday the total had been reached, and by Sunday even the Gofundme page had raised £216,985.

Mr Carey, 35, was given just three months to live in July after surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy failed to halt the growth of the aggressive tumour.

After last month's bleak prognosis, the engineer from the village of Portglenone, Co Antrim underwent further specialist neurosurgery in London.

The operation removed the bulk of the tumour, but a malignant rump remains and he has been told the only real option left is a cutting-edge immunotherapy procedure.

The treatment is only available privately in London and will cost the couple £205,000.

Mrs Carey said she was amazed at the public's reaction.

"This is so heart warming. It goes to show the true heart, soul, compassion, and kindness of people.

"We are beyond grateful. The support, love, generosity and encouragement Kevin and I have received is indescribable.

"Thank you all for believing in Kevin, and standing with him to fight this. Kevin has a tough fight ahead of him, and has to face the immunotherapy treatment, but now, he is not alone, he has the strength of so many wonderful people carrying him on in his fight."

Most of the money was raised by small donations from members of the public, among the businesses that The Ponderosa Bar on the Glenshane Pass.

Mrs Carey said any additional money raised would be donated to brain tumour research.