Olivier Award nominee Alison Jiear has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help pay for surgery after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The Australian singer and musical theatre favourite who was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in Jerry Springer: The Opera was diagnosed after experiencing problems with her co-ordination while working aboard a Princess cruise ship.
On the advice of the ship’s doctor she returned to the UK where an emergency scan confirmed she was suffering from glioblastoma.
Jiear (whose credits also include Sister Act, Three Little Pigs, Grease and Xanadu) posted that she had been told the tumour was incurable and had been offered two options – palliative care and potentially less than a month to live or a biopsy followed by treatment which could give her an extra six to 12 months with her family.
Although the NHS neurosurgeon told her the tumour’s location made surgery too dangerous for him to operate, she was put in contact with a private neurosurgeon, Professor Keyoumars Ashkan who, while explaining the risks of surgery, claimed he could remove 50-70% of the tumour.
The surgery is scheduled for 2 November, but the funds need to be cleared with the hospital by 30 October.
In an update on the mother of two’s gofundme page, Jiear’s friend Anna Turner posted: “We spoke this morning. She wanted to me to send you all a heartfelt thank you for every single penny that has been received so far ❤️ Time is of the essence and you have all helped her towards this next step. Please know that she may not be able to message or privately connect at the moment with you but I promise you she feels your love. Thank you.”
You can donate here: gofundme.com/f/private-glioblastoma-surgery-on-monday-2nd-november
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