Member Article

Wolves pack join forces to support one of their own in life-saving cancer treatment bid

Wolves fans are looking to give ‘one of their own’ a helping hand to access potentially life-saving cancer treatment at a special event this Saturday.

200 supporters of the Gold & Black will descend on the Duke of York for a special ‘Race Night’ to raise money for Claire Elliott, who only has eight months to live.

The former nurse turned lawyer is currently undergoing chemotherapy to help shrink a huge 12.5cm tumour that is pressing against her abdomen in the hope that she is well enough to undergo Pembroluzimab, an immunotherapy agent that is currently not available for her type of cancer in the UK.

It is the third time the 51-year-old has had to fight the disease, but despite the illness it has not stopped her and husband Greg following Wolverhampton Wanderers all over the country, Europe and even China for pre-season.

“It’s a guess, but I reckon I’ve seen over 1500 Wolves games home and away since the mid-eighties…I love it and it’s a great distraction from my ongoing battle with cancer,” explained Claire, who also follows England overseas.

“My diagnosis in 2016 was delayed after my GP treated me as if I was peri-menopausal and, by the time I found out, it was apparently too late. I didn’t want to give up so started an extensive 7-week period of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and amazingly got the all-clear.”

She continued: “Unfortunately, it came back and I beat it again, only for the cancer to return in March 2019. The hospital said they couldn’t do any more and I’ve currently been given between two and eight months to live.

“Pembroluzimab, an immunotherapy agent, is realistically the only option left. It is not licenced in the UK for my particular cancer, but infuriatingly is for head and neck, prostrate and some types of lung cancer. This means we need to raise money so I can try the treatment in Asia, Ireland or the US.”

The treatment costs £3200 per cycle and Claire will need a minimum of five to assess if it is having any impact and, if successful, up to thirty-five cycles in total.

When combined with Caris tumour testing, this means a total of £120,000 could be needed and that is why family, friends and Wolves fans from across the UK have joined forces, starting with the Race Evening being held at the Duke of York on Saturday.

ABC Cars, M Security Services and Hatherton Wolves are kindly sponsoring the evening, meaning everything raised will go towards supporting Claire’s treatment. Entry is £20 and there will be a host of cash and beer prizes, not to mention a special sporting memorabilia auction being held.

“Greg and I have been overwhelmed by the support we have received over the last four years, especially from Wolves fans…we really are ‘one pack’,” added Claire.

She concluded: “I’ve beaten it twice, so hopefully, if I can access this specialist treatment, I can do it again…after all we’ve got the Europa League to win!”

For further information or to book tickets, please contact Hatherton Wolves on their Facebook page.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .