A BURLEY-in-Wharfedale man has started life-saving cancer treatment in Istanbul thanks to community fundraising.

Michael Hardisty - known as Bud - was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer which had spread to his liver on November 7 last year. The 53-year-old, who is a gardening contractor working across the Wharfe Valley, had been receiving palliative chemotherapy at Airedale Hospital but even with this treatment doctors gave him just nine to 12 months to live.

His family and friends, including wife Justine, 46, and sons 13-year-old William and Joshua, 21, of Burley-in-Wharfedale launched a fundraising appeal in a bid to send Bud for treatment in Istanbul, Turkey. The Chemothermia Oncology Centre has been reporting fantastic results using a combination of chemotherapy, oxygen therapy and thermia treatment.

Bud needs £50,000 to undergo the treatment and the local community has already raised £21,788. But as his treatment gets underway a fresh appeal has gone out for the support to continue.

Justine said: “Bud has completed the first and nearly finished the second cycle of chemotherapy. He is feeling really well in himself and has now got an appetite at long last. We did have one major set back when we arrived. He had a stomach and bowel infection which wasn’t picked up in the UK that was making him sick and unable to eat. This lead him to being in the intensive care unit for six days but thanks to the excellent care of both Turkish hospitals they turned it round so he was strong enough to carry on the treatment at Chemothermia but unfortunately this didn’t come cheap. It was £5,000 we didn’t have to spare. Thank you to everyone that’s donated, helping us to be here, but we are still trying to raise more money so Bud can carry on with the treatment. So if you can spare £1 or £2 it would be gratefully received.”

Fundraising events have been taking place and more are planned. Alan Thorne and friends walk the Three Peaks on Saturday and Justine’s dad, sister, brother-in-law and nephew are cycling from Liverpool to Leeds. Steven Greaves has got his old band The Swill back together and will play Burley Social Club on Friday, June 29 with all funds raised going to help Bud get better. On Sunday, July 8 Bud’s Swinsty Walk will take place at Swinsty Reservoir. Adults £5, children and dogs £1. Register at 11am at the car park at Swinsty or at the bar at Burley Social Club where sponsorship forms can be picked up. If you would like to donate to the crowdfunding appeal visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/justine-hardisty-3?utm_id=1&utm_term=6Y2AYKpBJ