A fundraising campaign has been launched to help pay for treatment for an Abercrombie & Kent employee fighting aggressive brain cancer.
Craig Leach had a CT scan in May 2022 after suffering from severe migraines, which revealed a grade 3 astrocytoma.
Leach, who is the senior Australia and New Zealand consultant for the luxury operator, had surgery to remove the tumour followed by six weeks of daily radiation and 12 rounds of chemotherapy – but last month (October 13) it was found the treatment had not worked and the tumour had grown back.
Leach is now awaiting a second craniotomy – a surgical procedure to remove part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain – after which he will require further chemotherapy.
With no other available treatment offered by the NHS, Leach and his partner Janin, who works in product at Audley Travel, are now hoping to raise £100,000 for the first round of immunotherapy treatment in Germany.
This treatment will use Craig’s own blood and cells of his tumour to create a personalised vaccine that can teach his immune system to attack the tumour.
“As the treatment is in Germany, there is no private insurance that will cover it and the treatment is not available on the NHS in the UK,” wrote Janin on the GoFundMe page.
“The cost for the first year of treatment alone is estimated around £100,000 and in addition to this will be the cost of travelling to Germany each month to access it.
“We can’t possibly afford this on our own and I really want to be able to tell my children that we have done everything to keep their daddy with us for as long as possible. So please help us in any way you can, big or small to reach our goal and secure his treatment.”
The crowdfunding effort has so far raised almost £20,000 from more than 300 donations.
Kim Berman, chief people officer at A&K, said: “For over five years, Craig has been a dedicated member of our family, always bringing passion and positivity to his work.
“We’re rallying around him and his family. Please keep them in your thoughts and donate to the treatment fund if you’re able. We’re all wishing him a full recovery.”
Pictured: Craig and Janin Leach with their two children, Luca and Rory