Julie Hannaford writes:

"Dear Friends,

Please join us at fundraiser to help Roger and his family. Also to farewell to Donna Searl who is moving back to the UK to be with Roger!

Huge thanks to everyone involved in putting this brilliant event together. Special thanks to Ivan Fernie, Gareth Dunster, Ivy Fernie and Steve Bruce for helping organise this event.

Wed 16th Oct, 6pm -11.30pm

Zafran
L/G 43-55 Wyndham St, Central

$400 entry
One free drink, awesome bands and DJ Steve Bruce
Lovely Tapas menu available.

Please RSVP- juliehannaford@hotmail.com or join the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/301002740040210/"

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what happened to Roger?

Julie Hannaford writes:

"See you all tonight at Rog Raiser! Great prizes to be won, awesome holidays to bid on, fab bands, wicked DJ, Tapas food, cheap drinks and loads of fun to be had.

Thanks to the Aqua group and all those involved, 100% of the money raised goes to the Searls'.

Entrance to Zafran is down the stairs on the left of Tivo (as you're facing it), off Wyndham Street. Spaces still available so come along!"

Loads of silent auction holidays in fancy hotels in HK and overseas available for those who can't make it.
See their Facebook Event page.


Dear Friends,

Please join us at fundraiser to help Roger and his family. Also to farewell to Donna Searl who is moving back to the UK to be with Roger!

Huge thanks to everyone involved in putting this brilliant event together. Special thanks to Ivan Fernie, Gareth Dunster, Ivy Fernie and Steve Bruce for helping organise this event.

Wed 16th Oct, 6pm -11.30pm

Zafran, L/G 43-55 Wyndham St, Central

$400 entry; One free drink, door prizes, awesome bands and DJ Steve Bruce

All proceeds from bar and food, including entry fee go to the Searls'!! Thanks to Ivan Fernie, all bands and organizers for their generosity!!

Bands include
Ivy Fernie acoustic, Helium, Salvaje & The Sleeves
Lovely Tapas menu available.

Please RSVP- juliehannaford@hotmail.com or join the event here on Facebook.

Ivy Fernie will be singing her original songs with atmospheric melancholy music in a minimalist approach with cryptic and heartfelt lyrics.
To be accompanied by Adam Barty of Helium on Keyboard and Martin Turner of Papancha on percussion.

‘Helium’
A fantastic feeling of a band, Helium serves up an eclectic blend of crunchy electro-acoustic guitar riffs,
soulful funky keys and original songwriting flair, creating a sound as uplifting as, well, Helium. You won't be able to sit still.

‘Salvaje’ is an Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble, performing rhythms from samba batucada to samba reggae.

‘The Sleeves’: Based in Hong Kong but emanating from the piers, snickets and ginnels of England.
The Sleeves come to slay all before them with crunch & groove, croon & fuzz, beat & melody.
http://www.thesleeves.hk/

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Here's an explanation, published by Ivy:

Regarding our Friend Roger Searl. We need your help!

12 October 2013 at 15:42

Thank you for your time reading this note.

Letter courtesy of Luis, Anthony and Julie Hannaford.

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Dear Friends,

Roger's illness - The Searls really need our help

Our friend Roger, has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic malignant melanoma (skin cancer). Roger is 44, married to Donna and has 3 children: Harry 10, Oliver 8 and Molly 6. The family have lived on Lamma Island for the last 12 years.

Roger is currently undergoing tests and hopes to be accepted onto a clinical trial at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Donna and the children now need to leave Hong Kong at the beginning of November to relocate back to the UK.

There have been significant developments in treating melanoma recently and we are very hopeful that Roger will respond well to the drugs being trialled (despite initially being told "there's really no hope" by Hong Kong doctors).

At this stage, Roger will undergo long term treatment in the UK for a minimum of 2-3 years. Roger underwent very costly surgery and tests at the beginning of the year (and was told he had the "all clear") which was unfortunately barely covered by insurance. Going forward, Roger's medical insurance does not cover any of the costs for this type of treatment. He had devoted his time and finances to a start-up business which he has now had to step away from.

The entire Searl family now really need our help. If you are able, there are various ways that you can give support.

We are appealing for financial donations and have set up a fund to assist the family during this difficult time. We are specifically trying to raise funds to cover Roger's treatment and living/travel costs for the family, to take whatever stress we can out of the situation and enable the Searls to focus on the priority of healing (please see bank details below).

Roger has set up a blog on caringbridge.org, a website which enables the patient to update regularly with news of their treatment. Please log on and follow his progress and send him emails of encouragement:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/rogersearl (free & easy registration)

This is one of those occasions that puts life into sharp perspective for all of us and we hope this perspective can enable us to offer generous financial support. We are grateful for anything at all that you can give, it doesn't matter how big or small your contribution is, it will be put to good use.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness - every dollar counts.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who you think might like to help Roger and his family.

Warm regards,
Louise, Anthony and Jules

Hong Kong Bank Details
Bank: Standard Chartered Bank
HK Account Name: Donna Marie Searl
HK Account Number: 44789403221

Bank Address: LG/F to 2/F of Silver Fortune Plaza, No. 1 Wellington Street, Hong Kong
Account Holder's address: 3 Yung Shue Ling, Lamma Island, Hong Kong

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More news and photos from Rog-Raiser last night.
Plus the official Rog-Raiser 2013 photo album.
Plus the Rog-Raiser 2013 video (17MB) with a long interview with Roger, shown last night for the very first time.

---

Roger Searl himself Facebooked from the UK where he's currently awaiting cancer treatment and his entire family joining him very soon:

"Somehow I have only just seen this page!

You guys are incredible thank you so much for your help and support through these challenging times.

Missing everyone in HK so much.
Have a great time tonight and down a few for me guys - there in spirit at least.

Love you all."

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From Donna Searl:

Hi everyone

Well the kids are finally at school as of yesterday so I now have time to sit down and write this email (before I do the housework).

I want to start by saying the biggest THANK YOU to everyone who helped our family repatriate to the UK.

Not only did you pool together your energy, spirit and support, but Lamma peeps and HK peeps managed to raise well over $200,000, an unbelievable effort which really showed us all how much we are loved and now missed.

The money raised has been put to very good use. As we have not lived in the UK for 14 years the only way we were able to rent somewhere was to pay our first 6 months rent upfront. With the money we have spent on Roger’s treatment and operations in HK this was an extra worry on top of everything else. The money YOU raised allowed us to do this and also get the key items we needed for the house. This was a huge weight off our shoulders and has made the transition for the children (and us) as painless as possible.

WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!!!!!

It has also meant that I can spend some well-needed time with my husband and children.

We are so lucky to have been apart of the amazing community of Lamma Island, I can’t think of any other place in the world that would pulled together and helped us in the ways you all have.

So again I want to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, which still doesn’t even cover it!

Please stay in touch with us as you are a part of our family, no matter where in the world you are!

I hope this email finds you all well and happy

Donna and Roger XXXXXXX

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