Salisbury man’s cancer charity hosting event at Downton FC
Tony Randall set up Big T's Cancer during his six year fight with cancer
A fundraising event is being held at Downton FC tonight in aid of Big T’s Cancer charity.
Tony Randall, who was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer six years ago, is aiming to support the Pembroke Unit at Salisbury District Hospital and the Salisbury Hospice, through Stars Appeal.
The event will feature the Deloreons as the headline act as well as raffle prizes.
Doors open at 7pm, with the show running until late.
Tony's Cancer Story
After finding a small lump in his neck, Tony’s battle with cancer led him to a relatively new treatment, called CAR-T.
“I went through the initial chemotherapy and then I went for a stem cell transplant, but it didn't work,” Tony told Greatest Hits Radio.
“I tried immunotherapy, two other chemotherapy programmes and some radiotherapy, and that finally got me to a brand-new therapy that they offer up in London.”
CAR-T therapy saw some of Tony’s cells sent off to the United States, where scientists reprogrammed the cells to attack the cancer.
“They injected the sales back in. Everything was going good until sort of like towards the last day, where I picked up a blood clot, my kidney trouble, lung trouble, liver trouble.
“I nearly lost my life a couple of times. But yeah, I end up staying up there nearly three months in the end. But I'm out now and I'm slowly recovering.”
The treatment had a 40% chance of working and Tony’s cancer is currently in remission.
Tony said he thought he’d reached the end of available treatments before he found out about CAR-T.
And even though his cancer is healing, Tony said it’s still important to make the most of every single day.
“There's no guarantee this is going to last. They've no idea about long term future or or anything. And with every treatment I've had so far, the Council always comes back more aggressive.
“I'm just hoping that this was the big one and this is the one that matters. And it's going to see me through.”