Gravesend waterfront display celebrates reaching £100,000 for dad Mark Towens cancer fight
15:00, 06 August 2020
updated: 15:25, 06 August 2020
Lifeboats were performing a show on the waterfront to celebrate reaching a £100,000 fundraising target for a dad fighting cancer.
Mark Towens, from Gravesend, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2003 after finding a mole while fishing on holiday and was given the all-clear following an operation.
But 12 years later, the cancer returned and spread to his lungs and liver.
The 39-year-old decided to privately fund treatment, which isn't available in the UK, as his "last option".
A fundraiser to reach £100,000 was set up last month and reached the target yesterday, prompting a display on Gravesend waterfront from the Gravesend RNLI and Svitzer rescue teams.
More than 1,500 people have donated to the father-of-two's page, which was started by his sister Joanne.
Speaking to the Messenger last month, the harbour master for the Port of London Authority said: "The last few days have been overwhelming.
"I want to look my kids in the eye if the point gets to 'this is it' and want to tell them I've done absolutely everything and there's nothing else I can do."
"The speed with which the donations have come in has been unbelievable and you don't expect that sort of reaction.
"We thought we might raise a bit but not that much. It's been phenomenal and hopefully we can keep it going a bit further.
"The first days when things were coming in were so emotional. There's been a few times welling up seeing the messages.
"I've never wanted people to know about it and deal with it myself and protect our family.
"I have a job where I'm in charge all the time so when people are helping you, it's turned everything on its head.
"It's been a tough few days, which seems odd with all the donations, but to see messages and see what they've got to say."
But time is of the essence for Mark who is currently having chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is awaiting the results of a brain scan which will allow him to progress.
He says his current treatment will only give him a few months.
But he has been determined to take the fight to cancer and has never let himself "mope around".
"When they deliver the news you don't know how to take it," Mark explained. "I'm not stopping until I've done it all.
"I want to look my kids in the eye if the point gets to 'this is it' and want to tell them I've done absolutely everything and there's nothing else I can do."
Donate to help fund Mark's treatment here.
