Meila Davis, 12, last week underwent the first stage of a clinical trial in the United States, at the University of North Carolina, having been diagnosed with terminal osteosarcoma last June.
The first step involved withdrawing some of Meila’s blood, which will be used to create T-cells. She will return to the US in September, when the T-cells will be put back into her body, targeting her cancerous cells.
The family has recently been given $10,000 by the Hugo Charitable Trust towards travel and treatment. But to help cover the shortfall, Meila’s mum, Kristen, has organised a fundraising black-tie "Shine Bright Like a Diamond" ball, including a three-course dinner and auction, being held at Arrowtown’s Vingard next Saturday.
Royalburn Station has donated lamb for the dinner, while Amisfield is supplying wine and Altitude Brewing is coming to the party with craft beer.
One business owner is going the extra mile.
Beds R Us and Queenstown Furniture Gallery’s Ricky Proctor, who’ll be running the auction on the night, has secured a La-Z-Boy lounge suite and SleepyHead bed, both worth $10,000, to go under the hammer, along with items from his gallery.
Auction items will go live via GalaBid on Monday, enabling online bidding.
Meila’s mum says she’s been blown away by the community’s kindness and wants to pay it forward once Meila is on the road to recovery.
