Comedian Peter Kay raises whopping £150k for mum’s life-saving cancer treatment after volunteering to hold fundraising shows
The star organised two one-man shows off his own back after a letter about Polly Haydock's illness was posted through his door
COMEDIAN Peter Kay has raised almost £150,000 towards a mum-of-three's life-saving cancer treatment by volunteering to stage two special shows after hearing of her plight.
The big-hearted star of Phoenix Nights and Car Share organised the one-man shows off his own back after a letter about Polly Haydock's devastating illness was posted through his door.
And now mum Polly, who is fundraising for revolutionary treatment after being told she has just six months to live, has paid an emotional tribute to the comic.
She wrote on her : “Absolutely overwhelming amount raised at The Blackpool Opera House by The Legend that is Peter Kay!”
The 37-year-old mum was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in October last year, but in July was told she had just six months to live after it spread to her lymph nodes, liver and lungs.
But Polly refused to give up and an appeal fund was launched to help pay for revolutionary treatment in Germany.
Husband Dan, 40, said a friend of the family contacted Peter, 43, asking for his help.
He told the : “She just posted a letter through his door to try and get him to come to a fund raising event at a local pub.
“Peter rang her and said ‘I have got a better idea, I’ll put these two nights on’.”
Polly has already started her treatment abroad so was unable to attend the special shows in the Lancashire seaside resort.
Dan said: “Polly was still in Germany but most of the family and friends managed to go. It was really good. A really great night, very entertaining.
“Peter is a very warm person and he came across like that.
“It was a question and answer night. People were asking him questions and he was giving witty and informative answers."
The generous Bolton-born star recorded a special video message for Polly while underwent treatment in Germany.
“He just said ‘I am really glad that I can do this for you. It is nothing for me to put two nights on but it makes a big difference to the cause for Polly’," said Dan.
“He gave us a massive hug and said ‘I hope everything is going to be ok’.”
The shows have raised £148,352 towards the estimated £410,000 cost of Polly’s pioneering immunotherapy treatment.
Dan praised the comedian's generosity.
“It is outstanding. It is something you don’t expect," he said.
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"One month you are watching him on Car Share and a couple of weeks later you are there with him.”
Peter's Car Share co-star Sian Gibson also attended one of the shows and met the family.
The popular sitcom is set to return for a festive special as part of Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle on Christmas Eve.
Polly, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise the £410,000 to pay for her treatment and any surplus will be given to other cancer causes.
After an initial three week course of treatment she has returned to the UK for Christmas, but will travel back to the Hallwang Clinic in southern Germany in the New Year.
Dan said: “The doctors in Germany are very confident. They can’t give you a guarantee but they are confident she will be in remission.”
Polly wrote on her page: “The treatment was very harsh and I really did struggle, but the good news is that I am home and it looks/feels like something is working!
“Although it is very early days, my tumour pain has eased considerably and I am taking that as a positive.
“I have a scan in January when I return to Germany for more treatment and hope and pray that the tumours have started to shrink.”
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