‘We will not let Faye’s life finish right here’: Marketing campaign to save lots of younger star battling uncommon mind tumour

As fatigue set in and the sensation in components of her left facet started to flicker away, Faye Fantarrow thought she knew what was coming. By age 20, the leukemia she had survived twice as a baby had returned for a 3rd time, she feared.

“Simply” the leukemia, she says, realizing that most cancers is rarely “simply.” However having survived it twice earlier than, at the very least she knew what to anticipate. Or thought she did.

Nevertheless, blood exams got here again regular, she says. No leukemia. It wasn’t till she underwent scans and finally a biopsy that medical doctors have been in a position to give her a prognosis: an aggressive glioma mind tumor, believed to be an extremely uncommon consequence of earlier radiation remedy she had undergone as an adolescent.

This was again in August. Since then Faye, from Sunderland, has had additional radiotherapy to attempt to shrink a number of growths. However there isn’t any remedy within the UK.

An aspiring singer and musician, found on social media and later signed by Eurythmics star Dave Stewart earlier in 2022, she grew to become conscious of a lifeline – a trial on the Metropolis of Hope hospital within the metropolis of Duarte in Los Angeles County, California; a fancy remedy, at a complete price of £450,000.

Now her family and friends, in addition to different musicians, are doing every little thing to attempt to elevate the cash. Three and a half weeks since a fundraising web page was created, donations have reached simply over £121,000. An enormous quantity, however there’s nonetheless a option to go.

“We can’t let Faye’s life finish right here,” her sister Abigail stated on the fundraising web site. “She is the brightest star you might ever discover within the darkest evening, she is powerful, impartial and gifted … please donate … please assist assist Faye combat.”

“It is scary however the safety blanket I’ve round me due to the individuals placing cash in and simply not giving up on me – it would not appear as scary,” says Faye.

The combat is now on to boost the cash for remedy in California.

Surviving leukemia

Faye was solely eight years outdated when she was first identified with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood most cancers. She underwent two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy that took away her hair and mobility, however as a baby, she says the dearth of correct consciousness cushioned her from the scenario, making her sickness one way or the other tougher on her household.

And in an odd manner, her most cancers modified her life in a constructive manner; She obtained a Courageous Coronary heart Award for youngsters affected by sickness or adversity, and he or she selected an acoustic guitar, paving the way in which for her profession as a singer-songwriter.

The leukemia got here again when she was 13 and this time she must bear a bone marrow transplant – an extended and troublesome course of, however one she went by means of once more.

“After which Mr. Dave Stewart obtained in contact…”

On the age of 15, Faye began taking part in guitar significantly and started writing her personal songs the next yr. On the age of 17, her music was performed by BBC Introducing for the primary time. And in 2021 she was named the winner of the Alan Hull Award for Songwriting – an award introduced yearly within the North East in reminiscence of Lindisfarne’s founder.

After years of most cancers dominating her life, Faye was doing effectively and her music profession was taking off. “After which Mr. Dave Stewart obtained in contact,” she says.

After initially following her on Instagram, Stewart later messaged the singer and started mentoring her, first including some manufacturing work to her demos remotely after which inviting her to report with him in London. Then they went to the Bahamas to report an EP.

“It was going so effectively… after which I made a decision to smash all of it,” jokes Faye, referring to the tumor. However that is the toughest a part of getting the prognosis now, she says. “I am extra conscious of it now and clearly it is affected my profession as effectively. I do not need this to undermine my profession and every little thing I’ve labored to construct.”

“She is already a nationwide treasure”

Stewart, additionally from Sunderland, has shared Faye’s story, calling her “a incredible younger artist”. He has donated £50,000, and his Eurythmics bandmate Annie Lennox has additionally donated £10,000.

“Faye is an excellent younger artist, a singer-songwriter in a category of her personal,” Stewart advised Sky Information. “Distinctive writers like Faye are few and much between and I knew after I heard her voice that she was distinctive.

“We spent an incredible time collectively recording her new EP this summer season solely to be hit with this devastating information no quite a lot of weeks after we completed recording.

“I can not specific sufficient how a lot I imagine in Faye and her skills as a singer and performer, but it surely’s her astute observations of the world round her that make me imagine she deserves to be heard for an extended, very long time.

“At simply 20 years outdated, she is a nationwide treasure in my thoughts already and hopefully she can be one in yours too.”

“I can look to a future”

Faye now suffers from seizures because of her tumors. She says she has good days and dangerous days. However she stays optimistic, saying she feels “euphoric” eager about performing once more after remedy in California; she would not consider it as a case of if, however when.

The remedy she wants known as CAR T-cell remedy, which is a sort of immunotherapy – a “complicated and specialist remedy”, in keeping with Most cancers Analysis UK. T cells are a sort of white blood cell.

“With this remedy, a specialist collects and makes a small change to your T cells. After a couple of weeks, you’ve got a drip containing these cells again into the bloodstream. The CAR T cells then acknowledge and assault the most cancers cells,” says the charity on its web site.

“It is out there as a attainable remedy for some kids with leukemia and a few adults with lymphoma. Individuals with different kinds of most cancers can have it as a part of a scientific trial.”

Faye says the NHS has been “incredible” up to now, however now she has to get to the US.

“If anybody may give what they will, I am eternally grateful for that,” she says. “I am conscious of the present local weather… so even when it is simply sharing the story, speaking about it. I am fortunate that I’ve this feature and persons are behind me, that I can look to a future. Despite the fact that simply speaking about it, I can not specific the gratitude for it alone.”

However Faye’s mom places it merely. “£450,000 appeared like an insurmountable sum. However then I believed, effectively, if we will attain 450,000 individuals and everybody simply provides a pound, then we will do it. And that is all we’re asking. If anybody may give a pound, then we will do it.”

You possibly can donate to Combat For Faye fundraiser right here.