The Australian footballing community has rallied around a loyal Melbourne City fan’s fight against cancer, with the Hyundai A-League club pledging $5000 toward the cause.
Paula Bedford was diagnosed with duodenal cancer four years ago and having gone close to beating it, heard the devastating news last month that the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.
The mother of two was told by doctors that the rare and aggressive form of cancer is incurable, and have suggested she travel to Japan for specialised cell-based immune therapy.
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Such treatment comes at considerable expense and resulted in Paula’s 12-year-old daughter Kara opening a GoFundMe page – which you can donate to here.
More than 370 people have donated to the fund in the last three weeks – including Perth Glory CEO Tony Pignata, ex-Premier League goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and former Melbourne City player and Western United-bound defender Connor Chapman.
To my @MelbourneCity family, I'm in need of help please! My cancer has come back & is aggressive. AUS don't have treatments that will be effective so I need to go to Japan ASAP. Please help ?? Any donations are amazing (GoFundMe link in FB below) https://t.co/umPNlvIP1n
— Paula B (@Paula_la71) 22 March 2019
Bedford – who has turned up to almost every home Melbourne City match since 2010 – also received a generous $5000 donation from her beloved club earlier this week.
“Dear Paula, we’re sorry to hear your news and wish you the best in your recovery,” Melbourne City wrote in their pledge.
“Please accept this personal donation from the team and the whole club. Hopefully, it can help you.
“We hope to see you at a game sometime soon. All the best.”
