Love Island's Montana Brown joins Deal sister in plea to help raise £240k for 'last hope' cancer treatment for Ella Wolff
Published: 21:02, 08 October 2020
Updated: 21:03, 08 October 2020
Love Island star Montana Brown has joined a Deal woman in her plea to support her sister who requires £240,000 for 'last hope' cancer treatment.
Amii Thatcher from Deal was left "devastated" when her 25-year-old sibling Ella Wolff was diagnosed with Ocular Cancer, cancer of the eye, in October 2018.
Following her diagnosis, she underwent surgery to have her eye removed and didn't require further treatment.
But in September 2019, a routine scan picked up an abnormality on her liver which was later confirmed to be 'incurable' secondary cancer.
Ella, who lived in Deal for 18 months and attended Sir Roger Manwood's sixth form, but now lives in Ipswich with her fiancé Calum Smith, was given just six months to live.
Since then, both a 12-week clinical trial at Mount Vernon Hospital in January and a separate immunotherapy treatment, started in May, have proved unsuccessful in reducing the size of her tumours.
Now her only route forward is a private treatment called Delcath, which can be performed in Southampton, at a full cost of £240,000 for six sessions.
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Ella's mum Debbie Shailer and sister Amii Thatcher, who she speaks with everyday on the telephone, are urging people to give what they can.
Amii said: "This is Ella's last hope.
"It's so important to us as a family to raise these funds.
"We are urging anyone who can donate to our go fund me page or even just share our page and link on your own social media.
"Any amount will help us reach this massive goal. Together we know we can achieve this and get Ella on the treatment she desperately needs."
The GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday and in less than 24 hours has raised a huge £35,000.
Added support has been given by Love Island star Montana Brown who Ella attended Abbotts Hill senior school with in Hertfordshire before her family moved to Kent.
She shared Ella's Fight with her £1.3million followers on an Instagram story.
She said she had donated herself, adding: "I want to send you so much love, so much strength and positivity. You're so brave. I can't imagine what you and your family are going through."
Personal blogger Jules Clairborne, who has 120,000 followers, has also highlighted Ella's Fight in a similar way.
Ella says she feels well in herself and is hopeful she will be able to afford the first couple of sessions, at least.
She said: "Being dealt this news at just 24 was seriously tough but with some promising treatment plans I kept super positive.
"50% of people who have had this treatment have had their tumours shrink, with the other 30% having their tumours remain the same.
"With these sort of statistics and at just 25 years old I need to find the money to fund this treatment."
She has received the paperwork and can start it on October 26.
Ella reacted: "I'll never be able to express how grateful I am and we are as a family for the donations so far.
"The power of social media is incredible. The amount already is more than I could ever had dreamed of."
To donate towards Ella's Fight, click here .
Read more: All the latest news from Deal
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Eleanor Perkins