Dad with leukaemia thanks public for 'incredible' financial support

A father-of-two who has a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia has thanked the public for their "incredible" support after he received almost €370,000 in 48 hours to pay for a clinical trial in Singapore. 

Sandro Grech, 41, asked the public last week for help to fund the treatment, his last chance against the disease. As well as the huge public support to his  whydonate page, the government also pledged €250,000 to give the police officer "hope" after he exhausted all other treatments.  

Speaking to Times of Malta, Grech said he and his family are overwhelmed by the generosity of the public.

"We never thought we would raise the money in two days," he said. "We were worried that it would take weeks, and I might not have weeks.

"We felt the whole country move to help us. It is incredible, and we still, at times, cannot believe what happened. The amount of love we experienced from people we know and also from people we don't know has been truly moving beyond words.

"This will change our lives forever."

In 2023, following weeks of shoulder and chest pain, Sandro was diagnosed with a rare leukemia. Photo: Sandro Grech

Grech had spent weeks suffering from shoulder and chest pain when, in 2023, X-ray results showed a mediastinal mass, which was diagnosed as a form of leukaemia called T-ALL, a rare and aggressive type.

Since then, Grech and his young family's lives have undergone drastic changes, and faced several challenges, including aggressive treatments, infections and long ITU recoveries. 

"Most of all, it's been challenging because I have had to stay away from my family and spend weeks in the hospital," he said. 

He spent countless hours on intensive chemotherapy treatment and travelled to Sutton, in the UK, for one year, where he had two bone marrow transplants from his brother.

His family praised Puttinu Cares, which provided them with accommodation during his time in the UK. 

"They were exceptional," he said.

He also had support from the Travel Abroad unit at Mater Dei, who were there for them around the clock and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, who covered medical expenses that were not covered by the government.

'All of this is for them'

Grech made it clear what motivated him to continue treatment and find a better treatment: his three and 12-year-old daughters, Giada and Ginevra.

"The only thing which pushes us to keep going is the love for our daughters," he said. "We both did it for them. All of this is for them, too. Even on the darkest days, and we had many dark days, they keep us going."

"Even on the darkest days, they keep us going": Grech's love for his daughters motivates him to keep going. Photo: Sandro Grech

Despite all the treatments, his disease relapsed and his only remaining chance of survival is a highly specialised CD7 CAR-T clinical trial available in Singapore. 

Grech explained how the academic trial is not currently open, but after discussing with medical experts in Singapore, who said they would access the therapy through "compassionate access" since he has no other choice. 

"We said we can either let it go, give up and let me die, or we can give it a chance and try to get the money," he said.

Grech (middle) a police officer on duty. Photo: Sandro Grech

That is when Grech decided to post on Facebook his fundraising page with a simple caption: 

"To all my friends on Facebook. Please, every little contribution counts, and please do share. Unfortunately, it is a race against time."

His plea moved many, including contemporary artist James Vella Clarke, who had offered one of his latest paintings for a silent auction to help raise funds.

The family closed the fundraiser on Saturday evening.

"We have now communicated with Singapore that we have the funds, and they have requested some more information from Mater Dei and included all the relevant departments to get things going," he said. 

He is not sure when it will begin but said the treatment is expected to take between four to six months.