Rare ride for rare fight

Adam Fenech with his 2021 Harley Road Glide. Photo: John Borren.

A sweet ride on a 2021 Harley Road Glide is what Adam Fenech is offering the winner of an online auction aimed at helping a Bay of Plenty cancer sufferer.

Adam has thrown his support behind the Rodger family as their daughter, 18-year-old Tia Jayne, fights as hard as she can against a rare, aggressive cancer.

'Our gorgeous ‘Earth Angel', Tia-Jayne, has been diagnosed with malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumors - GNET,” says family friend Jenny Durham on their Givealittle page.

'We believe Tia is the only person in New Zealand to have this type of cancer, and [there is] less than 60 cases worldwide. As there have only been a few cases worldwide, there is no tried and tested treatment plan for GNET.

'Fortunately, Tia's oncology specialist team is recommending specific immunotherapy drugs to give her the best fighting chance.”

The drugs - Pazopanib at $3000 per month and Crizotinib at $10,000 per month - are not funded in New Zealand and therefore come at a hefty price tag of approximately $13,000 per month.

'This amount does not help to cover the cost of scans and other medical procedures, loss of income for the family while they provide wrap-around support for Tia, or any other expenses involved in the treatment plan as a whole,” adds Jenny.

'Some insurance will help, but nowhere near enough.”

So far almost $24,000 has been given by 278 generous donors in the first 13 days of the fundraiser.

Tia-Jayne is fighting GNET for the second time. In 2019, the Tauranga woman underwent surgery to remove tumours from her abdomen, and at the time this procedure was successful. Unfortunately, surgery is not an option this time around.

Adam has run the ‘Harley-Lujah Kids Christmas Ride' for the last two years, and is running the same Christmas ride this year. Now he is auctioning a ride on his new bike to any destination of the winner's choice within one hour each way from central Tauranga.

'I have 26 years riding experience,” says Adam. 'The winner will be supplied with a riding jacket, gloves and, of course, a helmet for the day. They'll need to wear riding pants or jeans as well as closed in shoes, preferably boots.”

To donate, visit: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/tia-jaynes-rare-fight

To bid on Adam's online auction, visit the Marketplace section of Trade Me and search ‘Tia-Jayne'.

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