Support Hayley during Chemotherapy for Lymphoma

Hi, my name is Jess and I am fundraising for my little sister, Hayley.

Hayley was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B – cell Lymphoma (PMBCL) (Blood Cancer) a couple of weeks after her 30th Birthday in June.

Along with horrendous night sweats, severe itching, fatigue and brain fog, Hayley had also felt a lump in her throat for quite some months, which she thought may have been caused by stress in her personal life. She finally went to the doctors after Mother’s Day (the biggest day of the year as a florist) to learn that she had “an unknown mass” in her neck that required further investigation. After weeks and weeks of blood tests, scans, 2 surgeries and various other appointments, she was finally given her long-awaited diagnosis. This diagnosis has completely shocked our family and of course, Hayley.

For those who don’t know Hayley, she is a small business owner in Bendigo. As a small business owner, Hayley would average around 60+ hours a week in her business, either at her shop or at home doing administrative tasks. She would work around the clock and increase her hours even more for occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day & Christmas.

Hayley would commit herself in every way possible to ensure her business ran smoothly with ease every day. She would give back to the community by sending “Random Act Of Kindness” flowers and gifts to various organisations in our Bendigo community. She would attend to customers' wants and needs at all hours of the day to ensure her customers were always happy and listened to. Hayley owns The Petal Factory in Bridge Street, and while she has casual and part-time staff to assist her with her business, she now relies on them heavily.

Due to Hayley’s condition and the intense Chemotherapy she required, Hayley will be stepping back from her business to ensure she can get better and focus on her health and healing journey. Hayley has increased her staff hours to ensure she can keep her doors open. I am one of those casual staff members, and I am so very grateful for Hayley’s supportive team and lovely customers.

However, increased hours mean increased wages and outgoings; therefore, my request from the local community is to support Hayley’s business to ensure she does not have to worry about her staff wages or stress over financial matters during her Chemotherapy. Someone’s birthday? Think of The Petal Factory. Treating yourself? Think of The Petal Factory. Want to surprise someone? Please, think of The Petal Factory.

My request from the GoFundMe community is to show some support to Hayley personally due to the fact that she is not working, therefore, not earning.

Bills still need to be paid, food still needs to be purchased, medication will be required, and many other contributing factors during and post Chemotherapy.

Hayley will take a 6-month (minimum) break to focus solely on her health. Therefore, I would like to raise $15,000 to help Hayley with her day-to-day living expenses. This would work out to be just over $600.00 a week, for 6 months to cover her mortgage and some outgoings. I know this may not be reached; however I want to do whatever I can to help my little Sis.

If you’ve managed to get through to the end of my story, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I will check back in now and then with an update on Hayley’s health and healing journey.

Now it’s time to go and kick Cancers BUTT!!!!!!!!