Our dear friend Mark Bernard is very sick. Many of you will know that he and Toria moved to New Zealand almost a year ago, now we need to get Mark home to the UK, and on behalf of the family I ask for any help you can give.

This is a very complicated story but to outline, Mark got sick towards the end of last year, melanoma was diagnosed but it had spread to a lot of other organs. Mark has been receiving something called immunotherapy in New Zealand, it’s a fairly new type of treatment. However in the last couple of days it has become apparent that the treatment is not working and a CT scan today confirmed this.

In amongst this, the insurers in New Zealand have refused to pay out for the treatment due to a technicality.

Mark has been told he needs to get back to the UK in the next 10 days to be assessed for treatment. Between family and friends enough has been donated to give Mark one dose of braf inhibitor drugs before he leaves NZ. The hope is that this will keep him well enough to be offered the same treatment in the UK.

We need to raise money for flights to get these guys home, and living expenses when they get here to support them all at this time. I do not know if the treatment here will also be chargeable.

If there is any amount, however small, that you can contribute so that Mark can get home, the family will be so grateful.