An aunt has raised almost £13,000 to fund physiotherapy sessions for her niece who is battling a brain tumour.
Emmy Beazley-Williams, 42, from Enfield, north London, has raised £12,964, at the time of publication, on GoFundMe, to support her niece’s medical treatment.
Lucy, who is two and lives in Taunton, Somerset, has had a large brain tumour and cyst since she was a baby.
After repeated medical intervention and surgeries, she has been left with a multitude of health challenges, including being unable to communicate. She is also paralysed on the left-side of her body.
Despite the life-saving support she has received from the NHS during her treatment, the options for intensive physiotherapy were limited.
Lucy’s mother Tess, 44, researched her options but the private physiotherapy service costs £4,000 per round.
Beazley-Williams said: “You feel so powerless when things like this happen.”
This motivated her to create the fundraiser in May on behalf of her sister Tess.
Lucy started private physiotherapy this summer alongside chemotherapy for her tumour and the results have been positive.
Due to the specialised physiotherapy, she is now able to raise her left arm, which they have nicknamed her ‘leftie’.
About her family’s experience, Beazley-Williams said: “So often in a privileged society you’re shielded from it.
“But tragedy happens everywhere.
“You don’t necessarily expect it to happen to your family.
“But it’s part of being human.”
The money raised has funded a mix of weekly and intensive physiotherapy sessions.
However, the family hope some of the money can fund an adapted campervan so that they can transport Lucy’s medication and equipment on trips.
Support from the wider London community
As the fundraiser is close to reaching their original goal of £14,000, Beazley-Williams decided to increase the amount to £20,000.
This is because the price of an adapted campervan is more expensive than their original £10,000 estimate.
The campervan would allow Lucy to spend time making fun memories with her family, especially her cousins.
Beazley-Williams said: “There’s real joy in her existence and those moments are beautiful.”
Alongside the GoFundMe, Beazley-Williams’ two children, Marley and Daisy, raised over £800 in June by hosting a lemonade stand outside their home in north London.
Beazley-Williams commented that the support they received showed how amazing the community of London are.
She hopes that in the future more children will be able to access the life changing treatment Lucy has received as a result of the money raised.
Although they are unsure of what the future holds when Lucy stops chemotherapy, Beazley-Williams remained positive.
She said: “Our focus is on supporting my sister and supporting Lucy and doing what we can to give her the best opportunity for quality of life.”
If you want to support Lucy’s fundraiser you can do so here.
Featured image credit: Tess Beazley
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