Update On Becca's Angels

Just if anyone's interested, there are two new - and probably final - updates on Becca/Bob's blog.

Peter and Bet are going to concentrate their future efforts on the Melanoma Awareness Project(MAP) website from now on, and attempt to get the MAP DVD into every school in the country.

I'd like to wish them the best of luck with that.

Melanoma Awareness Project

Just so you know, I have - in conjunction with Becca's Dad, Peter - set up a new blog for the Melanoma Awareness Project.

This can be seen here and will be updated with video and photos, plus more information about the project, as often as I can.

New Post On Becca Bob!

Had a mail from Becca/Bob's dad, Peter, earlier today. A lot of the projects that were started after Becca's untimely death last year are coming to fruition.

DVD aimed at children explaining the threat of skin cancer, Stara Woods, Kevin's paintings & music, and a bursary being given for a Yoga course. All of these things can be found here.

And, so you know, March 24th would have been Becca's 36th Birthday. So please have a drink to her, and smile.

The Final Curtain

For those of you who have been following her progress through this blog, I'm sorry to report that Rebecca "Bob" Kaye has lost her long fight with metastatic melanoma. She died last night at home, with her family by her side.

Her dad sent the last update to her blog, which you can read here

When I'm in more of a fit state to comment, I'll post a tribute to her on here.

New Post On Becca/Bob

Evening all, just got back from seeing the Lostprophets at The Scala and saw an email from Becca's Dad, Peter, in my mailbox. I've been fearing getting a mail like this and, while I may be reading between the lines here, I have to admit, things do not sound good.

I raise a drink to you Bob, I hope you get to have one soon.

New Becca/Bob Post

Just received an email from Bob's dad, Peter. That can be read here.

It's happy and sad at the same time. I'm really happy that she had a great birthday, and I'm really sad at the thought of how much pain she must be in. I don't mention it on there, but she had to pretty much be propped up for the first photo, and the bottle that she's got in her hand in the second photo, is morphine.

Kinda puts anything you have going on in your own life into a bit of perspective. As they say in 'Spinal Tap', "a bit too much perspective".

Please Read! New Becca/Bob Post

As you know, I don't normally do massive pleas/requests, but in this case I'm going to make an exception. Please read this and then send Becca/Bob a card. That's all. You haven't even got to send money this time.

Just send her a card. Wish her a Happy Birthday. That's it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

New Becca/Bob Post

Received an email from Becca's dad, Peter this morning, which I've posted on her blog. It's not all good news this month, I warn you in advance.

Of particularly shocking note is the fact that Bob will be 35 later this month... Oh my. Doesn't that make you feel old?

Please send her a birthday card - even if you've never met her - the address is on the post, here

Another Becca/Bob Post

Hey, just a quick post to say that there's a new update on the Beccabob site if you'd like to take a look.

Also, and this was something that I noticed from the logs of people who look at that site, if you could put something like "Be an Angel in 2007" and the blog address http://beccabob.blogspot.com/ in your online signatures when you're going on forums, that really would be very appreciated.

New Post On Becca/Bob

Just had an email from Becca's dad, Peter, saying that while the brain tumours aren't getting any worse (one is actually getting better), she is starting to feel quite tired. Which isn't a surprise as she's been fighting like a trooper for 18 months now.

So have a read here and send her something to cheer her up (and spur her on) to the address listed further down her blog.

Becca/Bob: New Year, New Hope, New Post

Received yesterday from her Dad, Peter, a new post letting everyone know that despite the best predictions of the NHS - that she should have died over a year ago - Bob is fighting on! She had a pretty good Xmas, and actually found time to do some more knitting, and some cooking.

Keep sending your money to her though, as she's visiting Dr Callebout on 12th Jan so there's a chance the £5k a month cost of her treatment may go up even further!

New Becca/Bob Update

For those of you who know Becca/Bob, there's a new update on her site that I got from her dad, Peter, today.

For those of you who don't know Becca/Bob, please read it, and then put your hands into your pockets and donate some money to the "Angels" fund. The monthly cost of her treatment has gone up to £5000, and she's still not getting any funding from the NHS - despite them viewing her being alive at all as some kind of miracle.

New Update On Becca/Bob

There's a new update on Becca, received this morning from her father, which can be read here.

Please keep giving as much as you can afford to the "You Can Be An Angel" appeal, and please remember to send Becca a card - either Xmassy and/or something funny - whenever you can.

New Post & Pictures from Becca/Bob

Had an email this morning from Becca's Dad, Peter, which I've posted on the main blog for her. Not terribly good news, unfortunately, but it could be a lot worse.

She's also taking orders for Xmas sweaters!

I've also been contacted by someone who has a rehearsal space that could be used for a fund-raiser, which is handy as Middlesex University are being arses when it comes to allowing us to use the Students' Union building at Trent Park on a weekend.

If anyone from Middlesex happens to read this, please complain to anyone who will listen. I'm stunned the University would drag its heels over something which is potentially time-critical. Okay, not stunned. I used to go there, so I know what they're like. I'm still surprised though.

You Can Be An Angel - New Site!

Hello to anyone looking for information about Bob/Rebecca Kaye.

I've opened up a specific site here for information about the on-going campaign - just so it doesn't get lost on here amongst the rest of my ranting.

Photos Of Rebecca/Bob


These were taken recently for the "You Can Be An Angel" campaign. The pills in the background represent only a partial amount of what Bob takes every day. She has recently stopped taking the steroids which have given her the look of a concerned hamster and now it just looks like she's had her wisdom teeth all removed at once.

As you can see, she still dresses like a hippy and, I'm pleased to report, she still has her sense of humour. Which is amazing given the amount of pills she has to take, the constant making and drinking of vegetable juice and three coffee enemas a day....

Seriously, if you can contribute in ANY way, please leave a comment with your email address and I'll get back to you. Thanks again.

You Can Be An Angel

The following is from Rebecca/Bob's parents, Bet & Peter:

"In the world of theatre ‘an angel’ is a person who gives financial support ‘to keep the show on the road’. It seems an appropriate term to help Rebecca Kaye in her fight for survival – she will have enthused you in workshops; she will have taught your children in school; she will have entertained you with comedy and song (Small Scale Theatre Co); trained with you in Performing Arts at Middlesex; and acted with you in primary schools in Scarborough – later at Launceston College.

For those of you who have never met Becca – she was born in Yorkshire in 1972 and with her sister Sam led a carefree childhood. Little did we know that a chance bout of sunburn when she was 16 would lead to the problems she now faces. A melanoma (skin blemish) was removed surgically seven years ago and we all hoped that all would be well. However last summer (2005) Becca was diagnosed as having two brain tumours. The largest was skilfully removed by surgery, the second treated with the latest radiotherapy techniques. Even so she was told that she only had months to live. There was no cure. Metastatic melanoma is the most lethal form of cancer. Cancer would continue to spread throughout her body.

Becca did not give in. Together with her tremendously caring and supportive partner Kev, she searched for hope where the NHS could offer none. She went to see a doctor/naturopath in London – Dr Etienne Callebout, who had successfully helped people overcome melanoma. Together they devised an intensive programme of organic diet and natural supplementation. As parents, Bet and I sourced and paid for the supplements – averaging £3,000 for each month. Expensive (although nothing compared to the cost of chemotherapy so widely used by the NHS) but it did provide hope where none existed. It has helped to keep Becca alive – and the NHS Team are always surprised by her ability to spring back – she survives beyond their expectations. Tumours do continue to grow (although very slowly) and the battle is not yet won. Becca wants to fight on! She is more determined than ever.

That is why we need to ask for your help. Our own savings have almost disappeared and the worst scenario any parent could envisage, would be to have to turn off the supply – to stop all hope. We know that many of you are willing to help. Just a small monthly contribution to ‘Becca’s Angels’ would mean that we can continue the programme of support. Hopefully we can enable Becca to reach a stage of remission. At the very least we will keep hope alive."

Please contact me via the comments section if you would like me to send you more information about ways in which you can contribute. Thanks.