Children's charities to benefit from excess cancer fundraiser donations

Monday 08 March 2021

A fundraising page set up by an islander with incurable cancer to help fund alternative therapy in Mexico has smashed its £29,000 target in days - and more than £2,500 in excess donations will now go to charities supporting children.

Agnieszka Mastalerz (45) - known as Agi - was diagnosed five years ago and has since had two major surgeries, including a hysterectomy, and what she describes as “a very difficult course of chemotherapy."

She was recently told by her oncologist that there was “no cure” for her after the cancer spread to her liver, colon and her pelvis.

While she says she is tired, Agi is not giving up and is planning to go to the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico, which provides alternative cancer treatments, including a Vitamin B17 injection, which she hopes will support her body. 

As her private insurance would not cover the cost, Agi set up a fundraising page six days ago, hoping to raise £29,000.

Donations quickly poured in with Agi’s friends and the local community raising £7,000 in just three hours. Many donors praised Agi's bravery and called her a cancer "warrior".

Pictured: Close to 700 people had made donations to Agi's page by Thursday.

Islanders have kept donating since and the £29,000 target was smashed just before the weekend. The total now stands at just over £31,558 and Agi has written on the page that any surplus will be donated to charities supporting children in Poland, Jersey, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The cause is one close to Agi’s heart who spends her time organising events and raising funds for charities supporting children in Jersey, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Speaking to Express about the fundraiser last Thursday, Agi said: “I am so, so grateful for everyone reaching out, donating money, sharing the link, it is just so amazing!

“It shows that even if you go through difficult times, there is someone that can help you. Many people suffer, it does not matter if it is cancer or something else, it’s good to reach out rather than thinking there is nothing you can do.

“There is always a way, there is always a solution.”