Help Us Raise Money for Ocular Melanoma Cancer Research

It breaks our hearts to tell you that our dearly loved Husband/Father John Raymond Bellas, passed away on 11th March 2015 around midday.

In 2011 Raymond had been diagnosed with having Ocula Melanoma, which is a rare type of aggressive cancer created into a malignant tumour inside the eye. Melanoma can also be related to the skin but in Ray's condition it was inside his left eye. Due to this sad news he had to have his left eye removed to give him any chance of survival before it spread to his brain but as to his great fortune it was caught early enough.

Now four years on, the Melanoma soon spread to his stomach, lungs and liver, giving him only a short time to live, he was given 2-7months to live which he out done by a few months thanks to a new drug to help give him more time but eventually it spread to his brain and sadly he passed away on Wednesday morning after his strong battle with the Cancer. We have decided to set up a JUST GIVING donation page to help others like Ray have a better chance at life. All donations will go towards Ocular Melanoma Research, so that we have a greater understanding and can identify it sooner rather than later and to hopefully lead to a cure. 

If any of you would like to leave your condolences to Ray or leave any stories or memories you may have of him, the family would be so grateful.

Anyone who would like to pass on flowers, Please respect Rays wishes to a NO FLOWER POLICY, but to instead DONATE towards Cancer Research for Ocula Melanoma, as it is a very rare cancer and we would love to help others like Ray who are going through or have to go through this terrible illness. In the UK alone 500 more cases are rising every year.
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ALL THE DONATIONS WILL BE DONATED TO:

The National Eye Research Centre for the Eye Cancer Tissue Bank

'Vascular Uveal Melanoma is a malignant and distressing tumour of the eye. In the UK alone over 500 new cases are diagnosed every year.Sheffield is renowned as a major centre for research into these tumours, with over 25 years of outstanding work in this field. Despite this, mortality rates have remained stubbornly high and Uveal Melanoma continues to be a serious and important eye cancer, truly justifying additional research. Please support our campaign to fund a research scientist.' 

'Their work will allow sophisticated tests on the tumour culture of each individual eye melanoma to be undertaken. This is important as each patient’s melanoma is unique to them. By growing these tissue cultures the Sheffield team will investigate the differences and the impact that these have on treatment outcomes, with the ambition of significantly increasing survival rates.'

If any of you would like to pay regards to the family in Sunderland click the link below: 

https://jpress.iannounce.net/sunderland-echo/obituary/raymond-bellas/41073217?s_source=jpne_se

If you need to get in contact with us, please do so by email:
bvickery24@aol.com

Kind Regards,

Brenda, Lisa & Jane Xx