Burton Latimer man with MS to undergo potentially life-changing Mexico treatment after £40,000 raised

Steve Kerly and his wife Lucy aimed to raise £40,000 to halt the decline in his health after watching a BBC documentary highlighting the potential wonders of a new form of treatment.

With the couple just a few thousand pounds short of their target with more fundraisers to come, they’ve bitten the bullet - and Mr Kerly is to fly out next month.

Mrs Kerly said: “We are in total shock that it’s all happened so quick.

“When we started this journey back in February, £40,000 seemed like an impossible amount of money to raise.

“Yet here we are four months and a lot of hard work later. It’s incredible.

“People have been so unbelievably generous, here and over in Ireland where my sister Val has been running a one-man fundraising campaign on her own, and she has done an amazing job.

“We couldn’t have done this without our incredible family and friends, they have been superstars.

“We have a fundraising committee and we meet regularly for meetings.

“The time and effort they have put in is amazing – they deserve medals, thank you so so much.

“Then of course there are all the lovely people and businesses that have donated raffle/tombola prizes, and bric-a-brac and clothes for our nearly new sale, and also all the yummy cakes, thank you all for your generosity.

“Then finally to everyone who has donated, whether it’s been £1 in the bucket to a £1,000 cheque, you have all helped us achieve this and we thank you all everyone of you from the bottom of our hearts.

“It has certainly been an incredible and emotional journey which has touched our hearts.

“Now to get the final goal, Steve’s stem cell transplantation, to reset his immune system and hopefully halt the progression of his crippling MS. We shall keep you updated when he is home.”

Mrs Kerly is hosting a Big Bonanza Bazaar from 10am on Saturday, July 9, at the bowls club, Churchill Way car park, in Burton Latimer.

There will be a nearly new sale, tombola, bric-à-brac, cakes, lucky dip, hair braiding, raffle tickets, refreshments and much more.

Their final fundraiser will be on Friday, July 15, with a Bill Burton Family Disco, from 7.30pm at Burton Latimer Community Centre, where the grand prize draw will take place.

Tickets available from the community centre or from Lucy on 07932 793178.

To donate to Steve’s cause, click here.