Concert raises thousands for mother battling breast and brain cancer

Terri Burrelli, from Shoreham, has been battling cancer in both breasts, and now her brain, for the past four years.

Her first diagnosis was made just two months after daughter Darcy was born.

The Littlehampton Academy teacher, who is in her 40s and is also mum to 17-year-old Lauren, is currently recovering from a operation, which saw two brain tumours removed, but she may need to travel to the USA for the other two to be treated.

Enter her friends and family, who have been frantically fund-raising in a bid to collect £10,000 to pay for the trip.

A concert held at the Shoreham Centre, organised by family friend Keith Fowler, of First Avenue, Worthing, gave the total a massive £1,200 boost.

He said: “It was absolutely fantastic, and the feedback we have had has been fantastic.

“I was hoping to raise about £700, and was not expecting to raise nearly as much as we did.”

He thanked all the staff at the Shoreham Centre, who, he said, had been very supportive, and all the local talent who had taken part in the afternoon of music and comedy.

In the last weeks of term, Lauren, Darcy and their friends organised, among other things, pyjama days at their schools, BHASVIC and the Towers Convent respectively.

The events raised an incredible £1,850 towards Terri’s trip to America.

Two concerts were also held at the Littlehampton Academy, where Terri has been a teacher for the last seven years, which raised another £900.

The Herald and Gazette will print details of more fund-raising events for Terri as they are announced.