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Limerick family fundraising to help Derek Reale access life-saving treatment

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4 weeks ago

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Limerick family fundraising to help Derek Reale access life-saving treatment

A Limerick family has started a fundraiser to help support their brother, Derek Reale, access life-saving treatment

By I Love Limerick Editor, Cian Reinhardt

Describing Derek as a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend, the Reale family said they hope the treatment will give him another chance to keep fighting his illness.

The Reale family are calling on the public for support to help their brother, Derek, to access treatment that could save his life at Sheba Medical Centre, Israel.

Derek, who is battling metastatic melanoma, has been given a new chance for treatment after being told by NHS professionals that there are no further treatment options for him in the UK.


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Speaking on their GoFundMe page, the family said, “Derek has been fighting metastatic melanoma, an aggressive cancer that has now spread to his lungs. He has gone through every treatment available to him through the NHS — immunotherapy, targeted therapies. Recently, we received the devastating news that there are no further treatment options left for him in the UK.”

Despite the devastating news, Derek and his family say they are not ready to give up hope as a new potential life-saving treatment has emerged in the form of TIL (Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocyte) immunotherapy at Sheba Medical Centre in Israel.

The family said, “TIL therapy has shown real promise for patients who have exhausted standard treatments. Derek has been assessed as a candidate, meaning he has a genuine chance to benefit from it. This treatment offers something we haven’t had in a long time: hope.

Derek, who is battling metastatic melanoma, has been given a new chance for treatment

“Why We’re Asking for Help. The cost of treatment, travel, accommodation, and medical support is far beyond what our family can manage alone. We are doing everything we can, but we cannot reach this goal without support.”

In an update, Derek shared words on May 15 to those who have helped support him, saying, “Just a few words of thanks to everyone, I am really, really grateful. I have the next meeting with the clinic tomorrow. This is a tough road to take, but I don’t really have a choice. I want to spend as much quality time with my family as possible.

“Cancer does stop you in your tracks, but not always completely. All things considered, I am still doing ok, which means I am a good candidate for further treatment. This campaign has brought to focus how important friends and family are. We are here but for a short time, so it is important to cherish those you love and live the life you have! Thank you all so much again.”

You can donate to the fundraiser on GoFundMe

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.