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Mathew Westhorpe

CMDR Michael's Story

Total raised

£453.00

+ £81.25 Gift Aid

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Per aspera ad astra

Please contribute to the legacy of a teenage space pilot whose last week of life inspired a videogame community and the creation of a sci-fi adventure.

In memory of

Michael Brandon Holyland (CMDR Michael Holyland)

15th Apr 2004 - 22nd May 2019

My Story

Thank you for visiting Michael's Memorial Donation page. Michael was an autistic boy who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of nine. What followed was six years of treatment, hospitalisation, worsening disability, loss of vision, and all the anguish that came with it. Michael faced it all with a resolve that earned him much love and respect. Throughout this time, every effort was made by so many to give him a better quality of life and to extend his life, but sadly his stem cell transplant gave rise to Graft versus Host Disease which led to complications that were ultimately unsurvivable. It is our hope that we can channel some of the generosity and benevolence shown by many, many wonderful people into providing a contribution to ongoing research, so that perhaps one day in the future, the outcome of new treatments might yield better results. A bright spot in Michael's last week of life was the gift of a professionally written and produced audiobook in which he starred, which may well have led you to this page. If not, it's a fantastic short story well worth your time and can be downloaded to read or listen to from the following links: Author Drew Wagar's website: https://www.drewwagar.com/elite-dangerous-saga/michaels-story/ Drew Wagar's Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/drewwa/michaels-story-an-elite-dangerous-audiobook Fantastic Books Publishing: https://www.fantasticbooksstore.com/michaels-story.html Read more about how Michael's Story came to be here: How a video game community filled my nephew's final days with joy - https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/jul/04/how-a-video-game-community-filled-my-nephews-final-days-with-happiness-elite-dangerous If you'd like to know more about Michael's leukaemia journey or his life as a whole: Michael's Journey (Facebook group): https://www.facebook.com/Michaels-Journey-436731506755743/ Funeral Eulogies: https://michael-holyland.muchloved.com/Lifestories ---- ooo00O00ooo ---- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Please donate today and help to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. If you are a UK taxpayer the value of your donation can increase by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme – at no additional cost to you. Please tick the Gift Aid box when you donate.

CAUSE

Childhood cancer

Each year, around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK. Thanks to major advances in research, around three-quarters of children with cancer now survive. Help Cancer Research UK discover better and kinder treatments for all cancers and to continue to improve overall survival for childhood cancer.

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Total raised£453.00
Online£453.00
Offline£0.00

With Cancer Research UK Giving Pages more of the money raised goes towards beating cancer. Aside from the credit and debit card fees, every penny donated goes to Cancer Research UK.

All donations made to this page will automatically be transferred to Cancer Research UK.

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Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales(4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F).

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