THE SNJ’s Help Tessa Beat Cancer appeal has raised £1,000 in just three weeks.

An appeal was launched to help retired Stroud nurse Tessa Elam receive cancer treatment in Mexico.

Now the money raised by the SNJ can be added to the family’s fundraising website, giving a total of more than £8,000.

Tessa, 72, was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer almost two months ago and was given only weeks to live.

After being told she was too weak to undergo chemotherapy in the UK her three children, Mark, Miles and Clare, searched for alternative treatments in other countries, finally deciding on treatment at San Diego Clinic in Tijuana, Mexico.

Tessa and her eldest son Mark flew out to Mexico three weeks ago and since then has been preparing her body to start the treatment.

But Tessa has taken a turn for the worse this week, and Miles and Clare have flown over to the clinic in order to support their mum.

According to Miles it is a critical week for Tessa, who is now receiving 12-hour care at her rented home in the country as she is too weak to travel to the clinic every day.

“Fingers crossed she gets through this difficult patch and the doctors can turn things around,” said Miles.

“They are certainly pulling out all the stops for her and throwing everything at it, but only time will tell if she gets through this next week.”

Not taking into account this unexpected turn of events the eight weeks of treatment and the after-care were expected to cost £60,000, with the family raising £22,000.

The SNJ has been inundated with donations, including a £155 donation from staff at Weavers Croft in Stroud where Tessa used to work as a nurse.

There is still a long way to go so please continue to donate either at gofundme.com/help-Tessa-beat-cancer or by dropping off donation to the SNJ office. Please make any cheques payable to Clare Playne.