A series of concerts in Kent, Staines, Luton, Darlington and Milton Keynes have been announced for May and June 2024 to support Catfish lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Long.
Long was diagnosed with bowel cancer a year ago, and recent scans revealed that the cancer had spread to his liver and stomach lining.
Matt’s mum, Fiona Long, has also set up a GoFundMe page aiming to raise £100,000 for private treatment in the US for his cancer treatment.
“Matt has been battling bowel cancer for just under a year,” Fiona told us, “and despite surgery and chemo, his latest scan shows that the cancer has spread into his liver and stomach lining. His cancer team have said although there is the option of trying a different type of chemo, they don’t hold out much hope that it will cure him and is likely to, at best, extend his life a little.
“Essentially, we have almost exhausted the options available on the NHS. But we aren’t ready to give up on him.”
“There is an option to have a sample of the tumour sequenced, which will give us the maximum amount of information on its make-up, which will then show the cancer team exactly what drugs to use to damage it – to either slow it down, or there is just a small chance that they may be able to kill it.
“Obviously, we want to give him access to absolutely everything that might give him a chance. The only access to this treatment is via the private route, which is going to be expensive – just the sequencing, which involves sending a sample of the tumour to the USA to a specialist lab, is a little under £3k, and any drugs will apparently be about £3k a month after that.
“We will fund what we can as a family, but obviously, any ‘fighting fund’ you can give us would be very much appreciated.
“Without any treatment, his cancer team have told us he won’t make it past the end of this year. With the access to sequencing, if it turns out to be something specific they have drugs for, he may have a 15% chance of survival. That has to be worth a shot.
“Across May and June 2024, a series of five benefit concerts will take place in Broadstairs in Kent, Staines in Surrey, Luton, Darlington and Milton Keynes. These events will help raise funds for Matt Long’s cancer treatment fund.”
Wednesday 8th May 2024 – The Wrotham Arms, Broadstairs, Kent
Zac Schulze – Phil Woolett/John Doe Trio – Katie Bradley – Nigel Feist – Dave Good – Dudley Ross
Please Call Jackie on 07814 344 969 for tickets and more information.
Sunday 19th May 2024 – Thameside Brewery, 1 Hale Street, Staines
Laurence Jones – Greg Coulson – True Strays – Mike Ross – Alice Armstrong – Bad Influence With Jess Hayes – Martin Abrahams Band – Thomas Heppell
Saturday 1st June 2024 – The Bear Club, Mill Yard, 24A Guildford St, Luton
John Verity (Argent) – Del Bronham (Stray) – Robin Bibi – The Big Wolf Band (UK Blues Award Nominees 2024)
Friday 28th June 2024 – The Forum, Borough Rd, Darlington, DL1 1SG
John Verity (Argent) – Ash Wilson – Rebecca Downes – Andrew Pipe – Emma Wilson – Lorna Fothergill
Plus, The Forum House Band:
Jamie Pipe on Keyboards (The Mentulls & Danny Bryant)
Steve Amadeo on Bass (Aynsley Lister, Ian Parker and Ben Poole Bands)
Alvin Sephton on Drums (More T Vicar & The Defenders)
Sunday 30th June 2024 – (Low Ticket Alert), Jim Marshall Auditorium, The Stables, Milton Keynes
Brave Rival – Kris Barras – When Rivers Meet – Will Wilde – Chantel McGregor – The Cinelli Brothers – Ben Poole – Alice Armstrong
