Father’s joy as fundraising appeal hits £250,000 target

AN appeal in aid of a father with incurable cancer has smashed through its £250,000 target.

But the family and friends of Simon Cromack want to continue raising money for his private treatment, which now has just two months to run.

Mr Cromack, 52, who is married to Steff and has two daughters, Ella, 19, and Nelle, 16, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November 2023 after noticing himself becoming clumsier and more disorientated.

He has had eight sessions of immunotherapy in Cologne, which cost £10,000 a time, and uses a £17,000 device known as Optune, which uses alternating electrical fields to disrupt the cancerous cells.

Since August, his tumour has not grown, which shows that the treatment is having an effect.

It’s hoped Mr Cromack will live long enough to see Ella, a professional rugby player with Harlequins and England U20s, win her first senior international cap.

The latest fundraiser was a barn dance held at the Bottle & Glass Inn in Binfield Heath on Saturday night. About 150 people attended the event, which helped take the Give Simon Time appeal £600 over its initial target.

Friends and family dressed in checkered shirts, cowboy hats and boots for the line dance to songs including Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex, Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus and Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks & Dunn.

Tokens were provided for a free drink on arrival and for a meal cooked by the pub’s chefs.

Mr Cromack’s brother Jason spoke to the guests at the beginning of the evening and thanked everyone who had given money.

He said: “Today, we hit a huge milestone. When I stood here a year ago, we were all kind of in shock - I’m still in shock.

“We set out to raise money to keep him going and give Simon time and today we’ve hit £250,000 but we only have two months left.

“A total of 1,600 people have donated and I’m sure many of you have donated and continue to donate. I would just like to give you a massive thank-you from Simon, Steff, the girls and the whole family. Thank you so much for all the support you’ve given us.”

Max Tilney, a friend, said: “The reason for being here is to have a party and a great time. I cannot emphasise enough that the most important thing is that we raise money tonight

Mr Cromack, a former landlord of the Baskerville pub in Shiplake, said he felt lucky to have so much support.

He said: “The generosity has been absolutely incredible and I can’t be more thankful because it has just been superb. They are all friends from different parts of my life.

“And what a great venue the Bottle & Glass Inn has been.”

Mr Cromack described his monthly treatment sessions as brilliant.

He said: “It’s quite intense but it’s only for a couple of days and non-invasive, so it doesn’t hurt.

“I’m just very lucky to have people believe in me and my family.”

His sister-in-law Rachel Arnott, travelled from Australia for the fundraiser.

She said: “Unfortunately, our mother passed away two weeks ago, so I’ve come over to help prepare for the funeral, which is heartbreaking. But it’s wonderful that I can be there for this event and with the family. Simon is the most wonderful husband, father, friend and person.

“He’s stable at the moment but Steff has lost her mum, so he has to hang in there for a long time yet.

“It’s nice that they’ve got each other. They are the most wonderful couple who are so beautifully connected.

“It’s just beautiful because at the end of the day we’ve got to enjoy life, no matter what adversity might come our way. We have to enjoy it and the beautiful people we have around us.”

She said it was touching to see so many people at the barn dance.

“People who don’t even know Simon or his family have come as they just want to support him. It’s a beautiful thing.”

To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/f/givesimontime