Students at the University of Surrey in Guildford put on a special benefit night for struggling Simon Hollister – and almost 1,100 turned up to raise thousands for his treatment
An army of teenagers have raised thousands to help fund a desperate dad’s life-prolonging cancer treatment by doing what students do best – sinking beers at a wild uni party!
Simon Hollister is on a mission to stay alive for as long as possible after the 54-year-old’s world was rocked when he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, last year. The father-of-two says doctors told him the average survival time is between 12 and 18 months but he is refusing to go without a fight.
However, he needs to continue to fund Avastin, a powerful advanced treatment that could extend his life by a further five years by himself with the NHS unable to help due to just one per cent of cancer funding directed toward brain tumours. He estimates every round of treatement could cost around £80,000, and now he has been given a helping hand from an unlikely source.
Simon said he was left overwhelmed that students at the University of Surrey in Guildford were putting on a special event in his honour after they launched a Get Hammered For Charity bash at their union.
Incredibly, over 1,000 pupils past and present showed up with friends of Simon’s son Raphael helping the rally pals to make sure as much money was raised as possible. The Rubix event brought in £6,000 – and ‘Part Deux’ is planned for September in the hope of raising even more.
But it wasn’t all good news. Simon explained: “They wouldn’t let me go! I was told in no uncertain terms that my presence wasn’t required because I am too old. I had to suck that up.
“I can’t thank them enough, it’s so touching and the fact almost 1,100 students turned up and contributed was amazing. My son’s mates are still there, and they are doing it for him. I hope I was the source of a couple of hangovers, you know what students are like!”
After noticing some concerning issues while attempting to get fit last year, two trips to the doctors couldn’t provide him with the answers he needed. Certain something just wasn’t right, he paid for a brain scan and the brutal and bitter reality soon hit home.
“The day after the scan I had a phone call from the doctor and they told me I had Glioblastoma,” he said. “My world totally changed. I had an operation and they removed 80 per cent of the tumour. But this is a terminal disease, and as a family we know what that means.”
He is determined not to say goodbye to wife Zoë and sons Raphael, 21, and 16-year-old Gabriel and is planning on sticking around and has set himself the target of seeing his youngest turn 21 in 2031.
The sales executive said: “People don’t believe I’m ill, my mantra has always been smile, because it will extend my life by six months. I’m dying, I know that. but every time I see the doctors they seem to be coming round to the fact that I could last another five years.
But with more treatment needed at any moment, more money must be found. Launching a GoFundMe page, he says he could be around for five more years with an incredible £37,000 already pledge by people from around the world.
“I need to, I have got to stay alive to look after and be with my family for as long as possible, said the family man, who lives in Weybridge, Surrey, after moving south from Manchester
“No more treatments are available on the NHS. So after this one, a further £40,000 is needed complete the first private treatment.
“That buys me at least a year with the family, and I will keep fundraising as there are four private treatments to get me the 5+ years I need so I can see my youngest son get to 21.”
Simon also called on the government to do more for those diagnosed with Glioblastoma – and to dedicate more resources to fighting it. “Only one per cent of funding toward brain tumours goes towards Glioblastoma, that’s not enough,” he said.
“In the UK, 3,200 are officially diagnosed every year. That’s just those who are declared. We have seen the profile raised more with the sad death of Sophie Kinsella last year, and more needs to be done to raise awareness.
“It is so important to keep smiling. A smile helps you, and it helps the people around you – and I’m pretty sure it extends your life.”
To donate to Simon’s treatment and to find out more, visit his GoFundMe page here.
