We did it!
Niamh Johnston raised £166,214.36 from 2303 supporters
or
Start your own crowdfunding page
Closed 01/09/2024
Iʼve raised £166,214 to help fund a vaccine that gives Luke hope for a longer life.
- Exeter
- Funded on Sunday, 1st September 2024
Don't have time to donate right now?
Story
In March 2023 our dear friend Luke Johnston, aged just 35, received the devastating diagnosis of a stage 4 glioblastoma, following the discovery of a brain tumour. The diagnosis comes with a truly bleak prognosis: the average glioblastoma survival time is 12-18 months – only 25% of patients survive more than one year, and only 5% of patients survive more than five years.
It was only last year, in 2022 that Luke was celebrating his marriage to the wonderful Niamh in Northern Ireland, surrounded by their nearest and dearest. A year later and all those plans about how’d they’d spend the rest of their lives together have been cruelly curtailed.
But there is some hope. They’ve recently learned about a ground-breaking new treatment called DCVAX-L, they knew they had to do everything in their power to help. This personalised cancer vaccine is made from each patient's own dendritic cells, which help the immune system recognise and attack tumour cells. However, the treatment is expensive, costing between £150,000-£250,000, and not currently available on the NHS. We hope this vaccine becomes accessible for Luke and if it does, we pray that it can extend his time with us. If the vaccine doesn't become an option then the funds will be used for bucket list experiences.
The size of Luke’s friendship network is a testament to the type of character he is. Kind, warm and uniquely eccentric, Luke is truly one-of-a-kind. And the response and support from his friends and family has been incredible. One initiative already in the planning stage will be Luke’s ‘March to the Arch’ – a walk from Exeter to Wembley to watch England vs Italy in October. Over 20 walkers will take on the challenge of walking an average of a marathon every day for eight days.
But the truth is, they won’t be able to raise the sort of money required without your help. And that’s why we’ve set up this page. Luke’s got some ambitious targets planned for the next chapter of his life: Starting a family, watching England win the World Cup in 2026, and working his way through a lifetime’s supply of Jaffa Cakes and Bourbons.
Luke's March to the Arch is not just a walk; it's a symbol of hope and a testament to the power of friendship and community. With every step, the walkers will be raising awareness and funds for this ground-breaking treatment, giving Luke and other cancer patients like him a chance to fight this disease and live a full and happy life.
Any donation you can make to the cause will be appreciated beyond measure. Thank you for taking the time to read Luke’s story.
We recognise that there are other fundraisers being organised away from 'March to the Arch' and would like to encourage those raising funds through an auction, gala dinner, running a marathon, hosting a BBQ etc. to still use this page as their main fundraising platform.
UPDATE
On reflection of 2023, what a year we have had with your overwhelming generosity, love & support through all of your fundraising & donations. We have reached our initial milestone of £150K, so for that, we are forever humbled and grateful.
As the year came to an end so did Luke’s initial treatment within the NHS. To date, he has completed 30 fractions of radiotherapy followed by 6 months of chemotherapy.
2024...
We have had a couple of months offline to try and get some normality back. However, we are sorry to say this has once again been cut short.
After a routine MRI scan in January 2024, it has been confirmed that the cancer has unfortunately returned. Luke is due to have further surgery on March 8th 2024 to remove as much of the tumour as possible, and we hope that we can then move forward with the DCVAx treatment or other possible trials or private treatments.
The fight continues...
Updates
3
- 2 years ago
Niamh Johnston
2 years agoTo all of you who have supported Luke so far by donating, sharing and getting his story out there we are forever grateful and humbled, Thank you! Luke is now recovering from his recent treatment of daily radiotherapy & chemotherapy. Our team of family & friends are behind us and looking ahead at future fundraising events which we will keep updated on the March To The Arch Facebook page. Please follow us and help continue Luke’s story - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089674824107 Thank you all 💕 Niamh x
Share this update to help us raise more
- 2 years ago
Niamh Johnston
2 years agoShare this update to help us raise more
- 2 years ago
Niamh Johnston
2 years agoWe are blown away by the support we've had and to reach 15k in the first 24 hours is incredible. Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared.
Share this update to help us raise more
Niamh Johnston started crowdfunding
Leave a message of support
Supporters
2303
Naomi Poslett
Jun 2, 2024
This money comes from the clothing I sold on Vinted, which was leftover from Sara’s Cash in the Attic sale. I aim to sell more items at a car boot sale in a couple of weeks. xx
£82.75
Geraldine
Jun 1, 2024
Another wee donation. Lots of love xxx
£50.00
The Oakbarn, Budleigh Salterton customers
May 14, 2024
£21.70
Bob and Pam
May 13, 2024
Raised from the Quiz winners at Exmouth Police Club
£30.00
In loving memory of Peter Simons
Apr 29, 2024
£100.00
Ruby & Betsy(the dog)
Apr 4, 2024
My pocket money, I’m sorry, we don’t have much to give! 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🍫🍫🍫🍫 🫶🏼🫶🏼🙏
£2.00
Bob Police Club
Mar 27, 2024
Good luck Luke from the Quizzers at the police club
£15.00
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered nonprofit.
The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.
Great people make things happen
Do you know anyone in need or maybe want to help a local community cause?
Create you own page and donʼt let that cause go unfunded!
About Crowdfunding