Lifeboat Hero Overwhelmed with Generosity as £3,000 is Raised for Daughter Fighting Cancer

By Amy Smith w/ Great Yarmouth Mercury

More than £3,000 has been raised for the four-year-old daughter of a lifeboat hero as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

Earlier this year Hemsby lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd and his partner Amanda Goffin lost their son very late on in the pregnancy.

Just months later they received the devastating news that their four-year-old daughter Lucie had kidney and lung cancer.

However days later in March when cliff-top homes at The Marrams in Hemsby were destroyed by coastal erosion, Mr Hurd jumped into action to join his lifeboat team, working around the clock to keep families safe.

In order to give something back to their community hero, Jack and Sheryl Beck, along with Tony and Wendy Bowgen decided to host an event to raise funds for Lucie.

Held at Hemsby Village Hall last night, the event included live music, a charity head shave, raffle and burger van, raising a total of £3,125 for the cause.

Mr Hurd, 36, who lives in Hemsby, said: “It is absolutely amazing, we are so chuffed.

“Most of the people there I didn’t even know so for people to donate so much to a family they don’t know is just incredible.

“There’s a lot of things we want to buy for Lucie for the garden because she will be spending a lot of time at home.

“She has always wanted one of those battery cars to drive around in and we want to get her a pop-up gazebo so she’s got some shade in the garden and education materials so she doesn’t fall behind on her learning.”

Mr Hurd added: “Amanda and I can’t thank everyone enough for what they have done for us.

“It’s taking a lot of petrol to get to and from the hospital, so having this money will really take the pressure off and will put a big smile on her face.”

Lucie recently underwent a five hour operation at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and Mr Hurd and his partner are now waiting for the results ahead of planned radiotherapy treatment.

Mr Bowgen, one of the organisers, said: “We are so surprised with how much was raised. It is about three times what we were expecting which is amazing.

“Everyone was very generous and it was a brilliant night.”

Article/Source: http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/hero-lifeboatman-hemsby-3-000-daughter-four-fighting-cancer-1-5607763