Save Don's Life - Urgent Liver Treatment Appeal

FUNDRAISER SET UP BY DAVE SOLLITT ON BEHALF OF DON JACKSON

It is with a heavy heart that I have urgently set up this fundraiser.

My closest friend, Don Jackson, is in desperate need of a Liver Transplant and the clock is ticking, as he has been advised that he has only months left to live without this life saving operation.

Sadly, Don has been badly let down by the UK NHS, when, after a period of 7 months on the waiting list, he has now been told that the cancerous lesions on his liver have grown to marginally over the UK size limit, and they cannot, or will not, now perform the operation for him.

This is despite the fact that he has been repeatedly assured over this time period that a transplant was imminent (the UK average waiting time for this operation is allegedly 65 days!), and, that after nothing was happening for months, a brave family member stepped forward to offer to donate part of his liver for the operation.

In a cruel twist of fate, just as Don's family donor passed all the stringent UK compatibility tests for the operation to go ahead, he has been given the devastating news that they will not now proceed for the reasons outlined above in bold.

The only realistic option now open to him is a transplant in Turkey.

Turkey has a brilliant reputation, the best in the world for expert advanced technology, and performs way more state of the art Living Donor Liver Transplants than any country in the world. Their success rate is amongst the highest in the world.

The issue of course, unfortunately, is money.

We anticipate that the overall cost of this life saving operation, to include flights for Don and his donor, insurance, accomodation, some after care etc. will be around 80 thousand pounds. This may seem a daunting amount, but we believe it can be raised if we all pull together.

We sincerely hope that you can look to your heart and help to save Don's life by contributing as best as you can. ANY amount large or small will truly be gratefully received. You are, of course, able to donate anonymously if you wish.

I almost dread to say it, but if for any reason the operation cannot go ahead, all funding will be 100% paid back to everyone who made a donation.

For those of you who know Don, you will be aware that he has been a stalwart of the York music scene for many many years, as a performer, guitarist and songwriter in many bands, from CO2, Nearer The Far, the Crowmen, Ripe, right up until his current band Luna Velvet. Internationally, many of you will know him via his Dance Music imprint, Headstrong.

For those of you who don't know him beyond his music, all you really need to know is that he is a loving family man with 5 amazing young children, who he would love to see grow up.

Once again please donate whatever you can. Time really is of the essence here - we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.