Mum's heartbreaking race against time to get from Australia to Wigan to say goodbye to her dying dad

Deborah Ellison was heartbroken to learn that her dad David Brown, who lives in Pemberton, had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer last week.

He was told he had just three to six months to live, meaning she faces a race against time to travel to the UK to say goodbye.

Deborah, 47, has lived in Queensland for around 15 years with her husband, former Wigan Warriors player Danny Ellison, and their three children.

She has now launched a fund-raising appeal in a bid to raise AUD$30,000 (£16,733) to cover the cost of visiting Mr Brown for a final time.

She said: “If the pandemic weren’t happening I would be on a plane tomorrow no questions asked. But there is a pandemic. And so flights are more expensive, and I have to quarantine both when I arrive in the UK and when I eventually return to Australia. I have to take unpaid time off work. There will also be funeral costs.

“I have never asked for a cent in my life but I wish more than anything to spend some time with my beautiful dad making treasured memories before he leaves this life. Ideally I would love to take my children with me so Dad can see his grandkids one last time. But that is extra flight costs and extra quarantine costs.

“More than anything I just want to hug Dad and say goodbye.”

It is a heartbreaking situation for 80-year-old Mr Brown, his two children and four grandchildren.

They are also trying to arrange for his wife Pha to travel from Thailand to be by his side. The couple married around 10 years ago, after meeting while Mr Brown was spending time in Thailand alongside a trip to Australia.

His daughter-in-law Zoe Brown, who is married to Mr Brown’s son Darran, said: “He started feeling unwell and was losing weight. At first we wondered if he was anxious because of Covid.

“He went to hospital and had scans and it was confirmed last Thursday that he has advanced pancreatic cancer and he has three to six months. It’s been awful.”

Deborah, who works as a teacher, usually visits the UK every couple of years and is desperate to travel to Wigan to see her father as soon as possible.

While she did not want to ask for financial help, she knows she needs to raise the money quickly before it is too late.

Zoe, who lives in Orrell, said: “It would mean everything to her. She is devastated. She doesn’t stop crying.”

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