Foo fighters help sick fan achieve bucket list wish
A dedicated Foo Fighter fan, who is battling an incurable cancer, is about to tick off a major item on his bucket list - thanks to the generosity of band members.
Ken Powell, from NSW, who has stage four melanoma, is about to embark on a 12,000 kilometre adventure across the ocean to meet his favourite rock band in America.
The 56-year-old almost got his wish to meet front man David Grohl when the band recently toured Australia, but a bout of food poisoning forced the musician to cancel all meet-and-greets with fans.
It was a huge disappointment for the Warilla resident, who attended all six concerts around the country, despite suffering several seizures and being unable to walk at the start of the tour.
“That was our quest – to try and meet the band,” said Mr Powell.
“We came close in Perth but it didn’t happen.”
But not all was lost.
His luck changed when his friend and Qantas flight attendant, Daniella Whitehead, just happened to be looking after the Foo Fighters on their return flight home, and shared Mr Powell’s story with them.
The band was touched and Grohl, living up to his title as the 'Nicest Guy in Rock', offered his support through a photo greeting for his fan, as well as passing on some souvenirs, including a signed autograph and VIP tickets to a Los Angeles show.
His daughter, Tara, set up a Facebook page to raise vital funds to get her father to the concert and make a lifelong dream come true.
The ‘Ken the Foo Fighter – My Hero’ page has gained almost 5000 likes within a week, with messages of support flooding in from Australia and around the world.
“At the invitation of Foo Fighters management, we’re trying to raise funds to get over there and meet the band – finally,” he said.
Mr Powell was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 during a routine check up, and soon afterwards discovered a spot on his lung.
After receiving experimental treatment for 12 months, he received the all-clear but the cancer returned in 2009, when he discovered on his birthday that he had only three to six months left to live.
“It was terrible,” he said.
“I tend to skip that birthday – I want to forget about it.”
Medical staff at Westmead Hospital nicknamed Mr Powell ‘Miracle Man Ken’ after he defied the odds with the help of trial medication, two brain surgeries, and radiation therapy.
“There aren’t that many people who have lasted as long as I have,” he said.
“I just tell them to keep giving me these trial drugs and keep me alive until there’s a cure – that’s what I keep living for.”
Mr Powell said ‘setting life objectives’, like his bucket list goal to meet the Foo Fighters, is what drives him day-to-day.
He is aiming to raise $20K to cover expenses for the Los Angeles trip, with any extra funds going towards melanoma research.
“Any money surplus to the fundraiser’s objective will be donated to Melanoma Institute of Australia who have been a big support to me,” he said.
“I thought it was time to give back.”
To make a donation to ‘Ken the Foo Fighter’, please visit Go Fund Me.
[region=au]News break – March 25
