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# TEAM DDB RAISES OVER £ 40K FOR MERSEYSIDE CANCER CHARITIES
A local man diagnosed with terminal cancer has " turned a negative into a positive " by organising events that have raised thousands of pounds for local charities .
Wirral resident Danny De Brabander was diagnosed with bowel cancel in January last year . It had spread to his liver and he was given months to live . Determined to be positive , the 38-year-old from Birkenhead , co-founded # TeamDDB to support people , like himself , being treated for this devastating illness . Wirral Life met with Danny to hear more about his story and charity .
Tell us about your journey so far . I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2019 and started chemotherapy treatment in the March . After my first cycle , I developed a heart condition due to being cardio toxic . Thankfully , I got to Arrowe Park Hospital ( APH ) in time as I was heading for a major heart attack . In April 2019 , I suffered a bowel perforation during a routine stent being fitted at APH . I then had to have emergency bowel surgery with an Ileostomy stoma fitted . Unfortunately , I contracted life threatening sepsis and my family were told my major organs were failing and I was unlikely to make it through the night . Thankfully and due to the amazing care of the Critical Care Team , I pulled through and recovered after 6 weeks in hospital .
After recovering from Sepsis , in the June I was scanned and given the news that the cancer had now spread to my peritoneum ( stomach lining ) and was ultimately told to get my affairs in order as I would only have months left to live if treatment was unsuccessful .
I started chemotherapy treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in the August and scans in November showed a positive response with shrinkage in my liver and peritoneum , so I was referred to The Christie , Manchester for surgery .
In February 2020 , 60 % of my liver was removed to remove the cancerous growths . Unfortunately , in June it was confirmed that the cancer had returned back to my peritoneum ( stomach lining ) and more chemotherapy treatment was needed .
I started chemotherapy and targeted therapy treatment again at The Christie with a view to major surgery . I ' ve just received the news that treatment has been successful with the growths in all areas shrinking and I ' m expecting surgery early in the new year .
Tell us about your Charity # TeamDDB . Despite my own battles , I tried to turn this negative situation into a positive by setting up a charity called # TeamDDB with three of my friends . To date , we have raised over £ 42,000 for local Merseyside cancer charities ( in just over one year ). This has been achieved by us doing fundraisers such as sponsored runs , walks , cake baking , head shaving , raffles , Bowel cancer awareness events and much more ...
In July , # TeamDDB raised £ 6,800 for the amazing critical care team at APH during the COVID19 crisis . The same team that saved my life in April 2019 . With the money raised # TeamDDB gave each member of the team a £ 50 voucher and a thank you card from # TeamDDB .
Most recently # TeamDDB have been fundraising to help stop child poverty in the Wirral area . So far raising over £ 2,000 for Wirral Foodbank .
We all work vigorously to raise vital Bowel Cancer awareness . To ensure others don ’ t have to suffer what he has been through .
To follow Danny ’ s journey and # TeamDDB you can follow on Facebook , Instagram or Twitter @ Team . DDB .
10 wirrallife . com