Inverness mum's fundraiser after cancer diagnosis nears £10k milestone
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A fundraiser for an Inverness mum with terminal cancer has reached nearly £10,000 in donations.
Mum-of-one Melanie Finlay (48) has stage four metastatic cancer that has spread throughout her body since being diagnosed earlier this year.
As well as trying to make some final memories with husband Tom (43) and her son Joseph, she also has to face up to rising costs of living, planning her own funeral and teaching her family how to cope when she is gone.
Melanie, who lives in Castle Heather, is on a pre-paid meter for her energy bills and said she worries about the future for Tom and Joseph as she will not be able to financially support them.
She is currently in receipt of benefits as she can no longer work, having previously been a Police Scotland employee.
As a result, her close friend and colleague Rachel Sutherland set up an online Go Fund Me fundraising page to help the family create some final memories to share.
It has generated more than £9,360 to date.
Melanie has just finished another round of chemotherapy and hopes to see in the new year as it will be her one-year wedding anniversary in April however her health has deteriorated in recent weeks.
Melanie said: . I have been so blessed that people have been so generous.
"I am not unique, I wanted to be voice to those who are struggling.
"Sometimes it's hard to talk about cancer, dying and the physical issues it leaves the family.
"I know I don't have long left but I hope I've helped someone on my journey."
Melanie said, like many others, the rising cost of living continues to be a worry for the future.
She said the family “is not destitute” but finances are a big concern.
The family have stocked up on blankets and hot water bottles as well as making changes to the house to try and winter-proof it as much as possible.
The fundraising money has been used to make memories with the family.
Meanwhile Tom, a computer analyst, has had to reduce his working hours as he is now Melanie’s full-time carer.
