Emotional send-off for Hartlepool MS dad Eric

The family and friends of Harltepool dad Eric Thomson gathered together to give him an '˜emotional' send-off ahead of his pioneering treatment abroad.
Eric and Joanne Thomson. Photograph by FRANK REIDEric and Joanne Thomson. Photograph by FRANK REID
Eric and Joanne Thomson. Photograph by FRANK REID

Around 60 people turned out to an evening organised by Eric’s family on June 4, which aimed to thank everyone for their support and donations to Eric’s cause.

It comes almost a year after a fundraising campaign was launched by family friend Angela Crowe, to raise £35,000 needed to fund Eric’s Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations (HSCT) surgery.

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Fundraisers are now just £1,000 away from paying off the treatment which will see Eric travel to the Riaz Clinic in Mexico to undergo the stem cell operation on June 20.

Angela said: “The evening was held at The Raglan and was organised by Eric’s family to say thank you to everyone who has come together to do fundraising for Eric.

“It was a good night and was quite emotional, as this time next week they will be all packed and ready to go.

“Eric’s brother Gary gave a speech thanking everyone for coming and raising the funds. It was really emotional and everyone was in tears.

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“He said if I hadn’t started this campaign months ago we wouldn’t be here now.”
During the night a raffle was also held which raised £156 towards the remainder of the funds.

When Eric was given the devastating diagnosis of Primary Progressive MS four years ago, he was told there was no treatment in this country and was forced to watch his whole life change as symptoms progressed.

But after hearing of the possibility of pioneering stem cell treatment abroad, friends and family rallied round to raise the funds for his Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations (HSCT).

If successful, the treatment offers the possibility of slowing – if not stopping – the progression of his MS, and improve mobility.

To donate to Eric’s cause please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/HSCTforEricT.