A CHESTER mum whose young husband died of cancer in April hopes to raise £40,000 for a research programme set up by an “inspirational” doctor.
Shelly Newall, 31, of Laws Gardens, lost her husband Matty at the age of 35 to pancreatic cancer in April.
Shelly now wants to raise £40,000 before the first anniversary of Matty’s death to donate to the Colorectal and Hepatobiliary Research Fund, which is run by the doctor who gave her husband more time.
She has now launched a new website, www.mattynewallfund.co.uk, to track her fundraising progress.
Matty had been suffering with stomach pains for some months and was only given pain killers by the doctors. It was only when he was suffering night sweats that he was given a blood test and discovered something was wrong.
Matty was diagnosed with cancer in September 2007 and was sent to Clatterbridge Hospital. There they told him the cancer had spread to his liver and there was nothing they could do to save him.
Shelly said: “It was absolutely devastating when they said they couldn’t do anything for him. This doctor took us into a room and told us quite bluntly that they couldn’t treat him and that he had weeks rather than months left. He just said nothing could be done.”
After this painful blow Shelly and Matty were told by a friend to go to Christie Hospital in Manchester to get a second opinion.
When they arrived at Christie’s they spoke to Dr Juan Valle.
Shelly said: “He was very clear and he made us no promises that the treatment would work, but he gave us a little bit of hope that made all the difference. It was also the chance to do something.”
Shelly said although it was tiring for Matty to travel over to Manchester all the time, it was worth it because of the positivity that came from the hospital and Dr Valle.
She added: “Dr Valle just had this great aura about him, he was inspirational, we trusted him completely, and knew he was doing the best for Matty. I don’t know when he slept because he was just there all the time, whenever he was needed.
“He has said to me ‘what we need is a cure’, and I totally believe he will use every effort to find one.”
Devastatingly Matty lost his battle with cancer in April, but Dr Valle’s treatment gave him more time to spend with his family.
Shelly said: “Matty was here over Christmas, we were able to go away for our anniversary in February, it made a great deal of difference.”
Shelly has planned a series of fundraising events including a Teddy Bears Picnic at Noah’s Ark Day Nursery on Wednesday, August 6; Shelly’s friend Joy will be doing a charity skydive on Friday, August 29 and there will be a charity black tie event in November.
Shelly also plans to run next year’s London Marathon, as well as the Great North Run in October. To donate money or get in contact with Shelly go to Matty’s website at www.mattynewallfund.co.uk.
