A TAUNTON woman has chivvied up her workmates and a national company to raise funds so her desperately ill friend can undergo revolutionary treatment not available on the NHS.

Sam Roe decided to do what she could to help when Stephen Sykes was told his last chance of beating his blood cancer was to have a course of immunotherapy currently only available privately.

Sam persuaded colleagues at Mortgage Select, in Taunton, to join her on a sponsored walk along the South West Coastal Path, raising £700 in the process.

She then convinced Persimmon Homes to award a £1,000 grant to fellow trombonist Stephen, aged 26, who she met through their love of music.

Stephen was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in February last year and was given various chemotherapy drugs before his doctors at the Royal United Hospital, in Bath, told him he needed immunotherapy treatment followed by a stem cell transplant.

His family and friends rallied round to raise more than £110,000 to pay for the medication, which he has already been taking.

Sam said: "It's fantastic that so many people have helped raise the money and Stephen is having a scan this week to see if the treatment has worked and if he can go on to have the stem cell treatment."

His mother, Joanne Sykes, of Shepton Mallet, said: “Receiving this generous donation from Persimmon Homes is great news for Stephen’s treatment and we really can’t thank the team at Mortgage Select enough for their kind application.

“We’ve already broken through our target of £90,000, raising in excess of £110,000 so far.

“Stephen is now in a position where his only hope of reducing the cancer enough to be able to receive a lifesaving stem cell transplant is to treat him with a new type of drug called a PD1 blocker.

“Unfortunately, the cost of the drug is above the NHS funding threshold and is therefore not available on prescription.”

Persimmon Homes has also donated £1,000 to Langport-based bibic, which supports families of children with disabilities, learning difficulties and behavioural issues."

Graham Valentine, bibic therapist, said: “Donations like these from Persimmon mean so much to our charity helping us to support families - many tell us the support we provide has turned around their lives."

Nina Hester, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “As a company we are committed to supporting the groups and charities that make a real difference to the lives of local people in the towns and cities which we build.

“We’re sure both Stephen’s treatment and bibic will benefit from our funding and we’re so pleased to be able to make a difference."

If you wish to apply for a community champion grant, click here.