A kind-hearted mystery donor has given £700 to two Teesside mums who are battling cancer.
Melissa Lacey and Amanda Booth have received £350 each after the charitable Teessider, who wants to remain anonymous, read of their plights.
“It is so overwhelming,” said Melissa, a 33-year-old mum-of-one who has a rare appendix cancer.
“People are just amazing. What can I say? Thank you doesn’t seem enough but I really mean it.”
Melissa, who lives in Billingham with her “soulmate” husband Carl and their eight-year-old son Evan, was diagnosed with stage four signet ring cell appendix cancer, also known as psuedomyxoma peritonei (PMP) last year.
But as if one cancer wasn’t enough to deal with, she also has bowel cancer, ovarian cancer and peritoneal cancer.
Melissa has since decided to stop chemotherapy treatment in order for her to have a better quality of life in her final days.
One of her biggest wishes is now to take her little boy to Walt Disney World - something she insisted she would fund herself even if it meant draining her life savings.
But her old school friends vowed to help and a fundraising page was set up by Michelle Kenny, who last saw Melissa at the age of 16 when they were pupils at Sunderland’s Southmoor School.
The page, ‘Memories for Melissa,’ was initially set up to help raise £500 but more than £3,400 has now been gathered.
“I am just so thankful for what everyone has done,” she said.
“I honestly never wanted or expected any of this.”
Also overwhelmed by the response she has received is Amanda Booth, of Longlands, Middlesbrough.
The 28-year-old has terminal cervical cancer and like Melissa, is determined to make as many precious memories with her family and friends as possible.
She has already made two wishes on her “bucket list” become a reality after she renewed her vows with husband David on Valentine’s Day and had two of her three children baptised during the ceremony.
People have also come forward to help with other plans on her list - with Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park offering her a free visit with her family and the owner of Whitby Holiday Cottages donating a free four-night stay.
The £350 donation is the latest act of kindness.
In a letter from the anonymous donor, they wrote: “I have been touched by these stories as they are both so young and have young children who are affected by their illness.
“I hope Melissa can achieve her dream of going to Disney Land and that Amanda can do most of the things on her bucket list.”
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