Help me get back on my feet, and the cricket pitch.

Hi everyone.

My name is Bronwyn, a 31-year-old South African living in Scotland. Firstly, thank you for taking the time to read my story. Even if you are unable to donate, I would appreciate if you could share this page with your social networks. I really need as much help as I can get.

After graduating from my PhD in South Africa, I moved to Scotland in April 2022 to take up my dream job at the University of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, in May 2023 I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of blood cancer (stage 3a primary mediastinal B-cell non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (PMBCL). Between May and August last year, I had 6 rounds of intensive chemotherapy at the Edinburgh Cancer centre. It was gruelling, with multiple complications, but in October 2023 I was thought to be in remission.

At the turn of the year, I developed new symptoms. I was given the devastating diagnosis that my cancer had returned, and I had a 6cm tumour in my brain (known as central nervous system lymphoma). I was told the prognosis was poor, and re-started chemotherapy within 2 days. I have just finished my 4th round of treatment, and the good news is that the tumour in my brain has shrunk, but I’m not out of the woods yet. My cancer team have recommended that I have a stem cell transplant to increase my chances of survival and reduce the risk of my cancer returning for the 3rd time. Prior to the transplant, I need even more chemotherapy, and the recovery process is estimated to be at least 6 months, with the expectation from my cancer team that I won't be able to work again until early next year.

As it stands, I haven’t been able to work since May 2023. I have been fortunate enough to receive sick pay from my employer, but this will end next month. I will have no income, and – as I am from South Africa and living in the UK on an ancestry visa – I will not be eligible for any government support or public assistance from either country. If I move back to South Africa, to my family, I won’t have access to the cancer therapy that I have been fortunate to receive from the NHS... my life literally depends on being able to stay in the UK for this potentially life-saving treatment... but without funds, that will be impossible.

On top of dealing with the gravity of my cancer diagnosis and treatment, this financial insecurity is a huge additional stress. There is nothing I want more than to be on the other side of this, to be independent again, to go back to work, and to play cricket again. Setting up a GoFund me is my last resort in trying to secure financial assistance. Your support will allow me to focus on my healing and recovery to get back into the “swing of things”. The target should be just enough to cover all my living expenses, assuming I’ll be unable to work for a considerable amount of time. This is everything from food, to rent, utilities, travel expenses to the hospital and back and everything else day-to-day life requires. I don’t hope for luxuries, I just want to be able to keep a roof over my head whilst I undergo treatment and recovery.

So I would like to appeal to all of you once more, if you can’t personally contribute, please do share my story far and wide and help it get the traction it needs to get me the help I need. Thank you once again for taking time out of your day to read this. Thank you for every share, and thank you for every donation.

I’ll keep on fighting with a smile on my face. #AG2G #Kickingcancersbutt

All my love- Bronwyn