Geraldine musicians are joining forces to help raise money for essential medication for a bandmate’s daughter.
Local musician Craig Workman’s daughter Kim was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma in March.
The most effective treatment for the type of cancer she had was four cycles of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab, but it is not funded in New Zealand.
The cost was $60,000 for four cycles of treatment.
While a Givealittle page had been set up to raise money for her to access the drugs, a few weeks ago the cancer had progressed to a stage where a faster-acting drug — also not funded — was needed.
A 10cm tumour pushing on her stomach had made eating almost impossible and simple things like vacuuming and washing had become painful.
Miss Workman said the doctors had a ‘‘quick consultation in the hallway’’ and she had been moved straight to hospice for symptom control.
‘‘They were amazing, the care was absolutely phenomenal.’’
She said people might think hospice was solely for end-of-life care, but that was not the case for everyone.
Because the day Miss Workman found out she needed to change medication was a public holiday, her partner Sade Hopkins had flown to Auckland where a friend was waiting with the $5000 medication she had purchased from a chemist.
Miss Workman said she could feel the tumours were reducing, and in the last weekand-a-half she had begun to feel better, even managing to drive to Timaru.
Once the cancer stabilised she would begin again on Ipilimumab and Nivolumab.
When her father’s bandmates and choirmates found out Mr Workman’s daughter needed help, they came up with the idea of a fundraising concert.
Musical director Glenys Carson said that being in a choir ‘‘it seemed fairly natural to do a concert’’.
Mrs Carson said the Geraldine community got behind them with other bands stepping forward to play.
She said Mr Workman was ‘‘definitely a prominent person’’ in the musical scene in Geraldine, often playing at the farmers markets.
While Mr Workman and his wife Paulette are now on the road for a new job, they would return for their daughter’s fundraiser.
Miss Hopkins said her partner’s parents’ new job was unfortunate timing.
On February 1 they had been offered the new job, and on March 1 their daughter had been diagnosed.
‘‘Kim is just a naturally strong and uplifting person, it has been hard seeing her in pain.’’
The couple met 16 years ago working at the same restaurant, and while Miss Hopkins had initially said she hoped for another 16 years, on further reflection, ‘‘another 60 would be great’’.
The concert will be held on Saturday, May 31 at 2pm at St Mary’s Church.
Door sales and cash only.
