A former cancer sufferer is reaching out to help teenager Kelly Turner get life-saving treatment in America.

Paul Quinn, 50, of Westcourt Lane, Shepherdswell, received the all-clear from cancer of the oesophagus after a year with the condition.

The former local singer is now organising a day of bands in September to help raise funds towards the estimated £1 million-plus needed for Kelly’s vital surgery in New York.

He told Kent Online: “When I heard about Kelly’s story it knocked me for six – she is only 16.

“After hearing the dreadful news I contacted her parents, Linda and Martin, as I really wanted to do something to help.”

Mr Quinn already knew the couple as they were neighbours of his own friends.

He has now organised a multi-group event at the Louis Armstrong pub in Maison Dieu Road, Dover, from noon to 10pm on Sunday, September 11.

Local groups and soloists already booked include User Friendly, Andy Doble, James Fairfoul, Dan Leggatt and Hey Rudi who regularly appear at the annual Skabour ska and reggae festival in Folkestone.

In the early 1990s Mr Quinn was in the soul and blues outfit Souled Out, inspired by the music from the classic 1991 movie The Commitments.

Mr Quinn was diagnosed in July 2013, but was finally given the all-clear 11 months later.

However, he is now medically retired due to the side-effects of the disease and the gruelling treatment he had to undergo.

The Mercury newspaper is campaigning to help Kelly and her family, from Elms Vale Road, Dover, to get her the treatment she needs.

She has several desmoplastic small round cell tumours (DSRCTs) in areas such as the abdomen, liver and the portal vein that goes into the liver.

But she has been told the surgery to removed it is not available on the NHS.

A last option is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York but the cost for treatment there is now estimated at $1.5 million or £1.005,000.

Without an operation she has a two-year life expectancy.

Kelly has recently received some support in the form of TV personality Keith Lemon.

The host of ITV2’s Celebrity Juice last week retweeted an appeal poster created by Kelly to his 3.61 million followers.

And a coffee morning to raise money is being held in Dover this Saturday from 9.30am to noon. It is at Footprints@The Beacon at the Beacon Church in London Road.

n To help donate to Kelly’s cause visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/kelly-turner
Details of Mr Quinn’s book can be found by visiting pneumasprings.co.uk/myyearwithcancer.htm

“After hearing the dreadful news I contacted her parents, Linda and Martin, as I really wanted to do something to help.”

Mr Quinn already knew the couple as they were neighbours of his own friends.

He has now organised a multi-group event at the Louis Armstrong pub in Maison Dieu Road, Dover, from noon to 10pm on Sunday, September 11.

Local groups and soloists already booked include User Friendly, Andy Doble, James Fairfoul, Dan Leggatt and Hey Rudi who regularly appear at the annual Skabour ska and reggae festival in Folkestone.

In the early 1990s Mr Quinn was in the soul and blues outfit Souled Out, inspired by the music from the classic 1991 movie The Commitments