Stepping out for grey power - Carvajal Spain

18 SUR IN ENGLISH OCTOBER 2ND TO 8TH 2009
News Appeal
The family of a sick three-year-old boy who lives in Torrox is
desperately trying to raise 150,000 euros to cover the cost of
potentially life-saving radiotherapy treatment in America
Fletcher fights back
with Photon Therapy
DEBORAH CLEMENTS
Three-year-old Fletcher Falvey,
from Torrox Pueblo, was diagnosed
with a brain tumour in
August after a series of illnesses,
and weight loss. Dad Noel, Mum
Andrea and sister Shannon, (8)
moved to this area in 2008, looking
for a better life in a place
where family values and a caring
community were paramount. Dad
Noel said “I know it sounds
corny, but we were lucky and
really have found these in our
village”.
Diagnosis
Following a biopsy at Carlos Haya
Hospital, Fletcher was diagnosed
with an anaplastic ependymoma,
a malignant, aggressive form of
cancer. After discussion with the
medical staff, to whom the family
is deeply indebted for their support,
they undertook extensive research
to identify the best treatment.
Proton Beam Therapy has
less dangerous side effects than radiotherapy
or chemotherapy. The
beam is able to isolate the tumour
more effectively, causing less damage
to surrounding tissue. This is
Fletcher’s best chance of recovery,
as without further treatment the
tumour will grow. Unfortunately,
the treatment is not available in
Spain, and is limited in the UK. The
family decided that the USA was
their best bet, particularly once
Fletcher’s oncologist confirmed he
would be fit to fly. They are now in
Indiana, where treatment and consultations
will take place at Bloom-
ILLNESS. FLETCHER SUFFERS FROM AN AGGRESSIVE FORM OF CANCER.
ington Hospital and the Midwest
Proton Radiotherapy Institute, part
of the University of Indiana Hospital.
Fletcher’s family has been told
that there’s a 60% chance of getting
the tumour ‘managed’ with
proton therapy. A temporary home
is being provided courtesy of Hoosierscare,
a project set up by the
Sherwood Oaks Christian Church
to support families of any denomination
attending MPRI. Noel has
Fletcher’s family has
beentoldthatthere’s
a 60% chance of
‘managing’ the tumour
been unable to work due to
Fletcher’s illness, and friends and
family have been helping, organising
events in order to raise the
£130,000 needed for treatment. In
Spain, the ‘Plataforma de Ayuda a
Fletcher’ has been set up in Torrox,
and a charitable trust is being arranged
in the UK.
Noel said “We are overwhelmed
by the support we have received
in England, in Tenerife (where we
have family) and especially in
Spain. We are also amazed at everyone’s
generosity during such
hard times. So far we have raised
almost 10,000 euros, including a
couple of 1 euros, which we’ve
been told is pocket money. The
willingness of people to organise
events on our behalf is staggering
- we cannot thank people enough.
It’s taking them lots of time and
we are so grateful.”
For donations or fund-raising
events, go to www.friendsoffletcher.com
(Help Us) or donate
to Cajamar Bank (iban ES67)
3058 0737 3927 2001 2656.
News Gibraltar
DOLL. JOE BOSSANO MEETS HIS MATCH. B. MCCANN
The whole process of making individual
porcelain dolls is the theme of an
exhibition in Gibraltar
Doll-making
on display
BRIAN MCCANN GIBRALTAR
“I shall be exhibiting not only my
dolls, but the whole process of
how porcelain dolls are made
from start to finish. I have had to
learn many skills: sculpting, making
plaster moulds, working in liquid
porcelain, using a kiln, painting
the minutest of strokes on porcelain
with china paints, dressmaking,
tailoring, shoemaking
and wigmaking, to name but a few.
I also restore antique dolls that
are one or two hundred years old
to museum standard,” Christine
Mandelberg told SUR in English.
Christine, a holder of a Triple
Crown of Dollmaking from the
Doll Artisan Guild and a Member
of the Global Doll Society, has just
returned from the British Dollmaking
Festival in England where
she won a Dollmaking Achievement
Award for her doll of Joe
Bossano, former chief minister
and current leader of the opposition
in the Rock’s parliament.
“This is the twin of the chief
minister Peter Caruana doll
which I made last year,” she said.
The exhibition, which is free of
charge, takes place next Thursday
and Friday (October 8th and
9th) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on
Saturday 10th from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. at the Upper Galleries in
Casemates Square. The Upper
Galleries are on the balcony that
runs along the building on the
south of the square.
Christine emphasised that it is
not simply the original and heritage
dolls that will be on view but
principally a demonstration of
how the dolls are made, covering
every step of the process, and that
there will be a guest exhibition of
knitted dolls by Tony Court.
N MORE INFORMATION l Enquiries to
christinesdolls@gibtelecom.net