A 29-year-old mother of two who has been battling breast cancer since 2019 is collaborating with Bedford businesses to raise £100,000 for specialist life-prolonging treatment after doctors told her it was her best hope.
Darina Gray, described by friends as “the most generous and kind person you’ll ever meet” and mother of five-year-old Marley and Cobi, aged four, was first diagnosed only eight weeks after the birth of her second child at the age of 26,
She underwent a double mastectomy, intense chemotherapy, and multiple surgeries before being given the ‘all clear’ in December 2019.
In January 2022 Darina was given the devastating news that her cancer had returned. This time it had spread to her liver, spine, lymph nodes, and bones. Secondary breast cancer is incurable with limited resources and treatment lines available – her best hope was a treatment that would keep the cancer under control.
Despite doctors trying four different chemotherapy treatments, none have been able to keep the cancer stable. Darina’s Oncologist has said her best remaining hope is a rare life-prolonging treatment called Enhertu, which will help reduce the tumours.
The FDA in America has approved Enhertu and has seen extremely positive results, however, it is yet to be approved within the UK for Darina’s type of cancer, therefore the cost cannot be covered by the NHS or private health care.
The starting cost of Enhertu is £100,000. The hospital has agreed to allow Darina to pay on a three-weekly basis, meaning she needs to raise £11,000 every three weeks to continue the life-prolonging treatment.
You can support Darina’s Go Fund Me campaign here.
Dozens of local businesses have joined in the fundraising drive, including Bridges Espresso Bar, Affinity Magazine, Cox Hair & Beauty and Maria Grazia.
Neon Marl has designed a special ‘For Darina‘ collection of t-shirts on their website, with all profits being donated to the fundraiser.
The design of interlocking hearts surrounded by stars symbolises the local community’s love and support for Darina and her family.
Amber Reeson, the founder of Neon Marl, told the Bedford Independent: “Over the years, through Neon Marl I have supported numerous cancer charities, having lost my mum at 13 to breast cancer. Raising vital funds has a special meaning to me.
“I felt compelled to get involved with Darina’s fundraising as she is local, just 29 years old and a mum to two young children and is having to self-fund her treatment.
“Creating a t-shirt and selling it through Neon Marl felt like the least I could do.”
Inspirationally, Darina is not only taking on the fight against her own cancer but is helping other families in a similar position by starting her own charity ‘Gray to Sunny Day’.
The charity helps families impacted by cancer create new memories to help them forget about the awful realities of cancer for at least a day.
So far she has raised £16,000 through ‘Boob pot’ parties, a golf day, and a charity ball.
For more information about Darina’s story and to donate to her life-prolonging cancer treatment, visit her Go Fund Me page.
