Cancer returns for Hong Kong athlete Kelvin Lau as he tries to raise US$77,000 for medical costs
- The beach volleyball player underwent a bone-marrow transplant in February 2019, along with eight months of chemotherapy
- The 25-year-old was first diagnosed during the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, when he was forced to return home because he felt unwell
Hong Kong athlete Kelvin Lau Tsz-ho is trying to raise HK$600,000 (US$77,000) to pay for an anti-leukaemia drug after doctors told him last month that cancer had returned.
The 25-year-old beach volleyball player was first diagnosed with the condition in the summer of 2018, when he was forced to return to Hong Kong from the Asian Games because he felt unwell during a game in Palembang, Indonesia.
He received a bone-marrow transplant from his older sister in February last year and after several rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission. However, a recurrence was diagnosed in early July and he has since undergone four chemotherapy sessions.
Doctors have prescribed Blincyto, a US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug that reduces the number of white cells in the blood but is not on the Hong Kong Hospital Authority’s list of subsidised medications.
Lau said the first phase of medication, costing HK$500,000, is covered by donations from a charity and individuals, with support from the Hong Kong Volleyball Association. But he needs another HK$500,000 for a second phase of treatment, along with HK$100,000 for related expenses.
“I sincerely hope that good people from all walks of life will be friendly and generous,” said Lau in a Facebook post. “After I use the funds, I will upload receipts to prove that all spending is for medical-related expenses.”
Lau and his volleyball partner Wong Pui-lam battled to the top the hard way, earning money through coaching and paying their own way to take part in competitions around the region.
They finished second in the 2017 All China Beach Volleyball Tour, were ranked sixth in the National Games of China and their efforts helped the sport gain funding status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
“Many local and foreign athletes and coaches have been concerned about my condition over the past two years and have sent their blessings,” said Lau. “I am very moved. Looking back on my career, my partner Pui-lam and I fought side by side for Hong Kong.
“Helping the sport gain funding from the HKSI is the greatest honour in my life. Now that my body needs to recover, I dare not say when I will be back on the sand again.”
Lau has been trying to get his life back together since doctors told him the cancer had gone into remission. Although he was unable to play volleyball, he wanted to help promote the sport in the city and obtained a number of coaching licences.
He started work as a volleyball coach in a school in September but he has been without a job since December because of the Covid-10 pandemic that forced the Hong Kong government to shut down schools and most public sports facilities.
“Since December last year, I have had zero income,” said Lau. “This has increased my financial burden. Now that I have only a little savings left, I have to start raising funds.
“The target amount is HK$600,000, of which HK$500,000 will be reserved for the second phase of drug costs, and the remaining HK$100,000 will be used for other medical expenses such as hospitalisation, medication, treatment fees and basic expenses during the rehabilitation period after surgery.”
She has since undergone treatment and said in July that she was targeting a return to competition and is hoping to compete in the delayed Tokyo Olympics in her home country.
