Courageous one-year-old Denvah inspires incredible fundraising but more is needed to help save her eye
Fantastic total so far but more is needed
The fantastic people of Wearside have given a massive boost to a campaign to save a little girl’s eye from cancer.
Denvah Finlay, from Hetton le Hole has been diagnosed with cancer in both eyes at just one year old.
The ever-smiling youngster is only of only 40 children to be diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer. Denvah is blind in her right eye and there are fears she may have to have the eyeball removed.
Two huge fundraising missions to amass £25,000 are under way to help the now 18-month-old get the help she needs in the USA.
The Help Save Denvah’s Eye campaign has been launched by her mum Gemma, 43, and dad Paul, 45, and you can find out more about it here. So far, the total support on the page stands at more than £7,200 but more is needed.
Gemma said: “The USA visit will be as soon as possible and it will be 4 visits, 4 weeks apart. At the end of the 12 weeks we will know if they have managed to save her eyeball.”
In a separate boost, Sunderland woman Maureen Thompson has chosen Denvah as one of the causes she will be supporting in 2026. Maureen holds an event each year. It is called the Allan Thompson Fundraising Event in memory of her husband and will be held at The Alexandra Steakhouse in Sunderland on Saturday, November 14. Before then, Maureen is also holding raffles and appealing for cash donations. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/events/the-alexandra-steakhouse/allan-thompson-fundraising-event/999650182913143/
Denvah was diagnosed with Bilateral Retinoblastoma 2 weeks after her first birthday. Mum Gemma, 43, who is a self employed health and wellness specialist, was told by consultant that Denvah had so many tumours in her right eye that they did not know where one stops and another one starts.
Denvah was seen first at the Eye Infirmary in Sunderland and then at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where she had an MRI scan, lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy.
She began chemotherapy and her left eye has responded well. Gemma explained: “Now the systemic chemotherapy has finished for Denvah, the plan is to carry on with laser therapy to her left eye as she still has 2 active tumours in that eye. The treatment for the left eye is approximately 18 to 24 months.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT DENVAH.
Back the ‘Help save Denvah's eye!’ Go Fund Me campaign by donating to bit.ly/4dxe9Qa
Support the Allan Thompson Fundraising Event . Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/events/the-alexandra-steakhouse/allan-thompson-fundraising-event/999650182913143/