When Lee Trundle took ticket number 60950 out of the drum at the Swans Trust’s Annual Raffle, ahead of the game against Southampton, few realised the significance of the £500 first prize that was heading its way to ticket holder Gerald Greenslade.
For many winners of a substantial cash prize it’s a time to think of a holiday or the purchase of that long admired luxury item. For Gerald however, a long time Swans fan, there was no need to think and the money was immediately put into the fund supporting his wife’s battle with Ovarian Cancer.
Rosemary Greenslade, a former receptionist at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital and health support worker was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and underwent chemotherapy and a hysterectomy. But the cancer returned in February this year.
After further treatment she began paying for Avastin, a drug which is not routinely prescribed by the NHS in Wales. Rosemary has spent a sum approaching £20,000 on the drug, which has bought her time.
Following on the raffle win there was even better news for Rosemary and Gerald this week however when, after a long campaign, Rosemary was told that her local health board will be funding her future use of the drug.
Her desire to make the treatment more routinely available to others remains however and she is now leading a campaign for a cancer drugs fund to be set up in Wales, like the one in England.
Rosemary is pictured alongside her husband Gerald receiving the prize winning cheque from Swans’ Boss Garry Monk.