West End performer Alison Jiear launches appeal to fund brain cancer surgery

Australian singer and musical theatre performer Alison Jiear has launched a fundraising appeal to pay for private surgery after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The GoFundMe page has a target of £50,000.

Her symptoms first appeared while she was working on a Princess cruise ship. She had difficulty coordinating her left hand. Doctors at the ship's medical centre suspected she had suffered a stroke.

The ship's doctor recommended an emergency scan. Jiear then returned to the UK for testing, and glioblastoma was confirmed. She has since reported paralysis in her left arm and impaired speech, according to WhatsOnStage.

At first, she was told that surgery was too dangerous because of where the tumour sits. A later assessment confirmed that an effective operation was possible. The planned surgery aims to remove about 50 to 70 per cent of the tumour.

Jiear has said the operation would not be a cure. She hopes it could give her more time with her children and help her maintain her quality of life.

The operation is scheduled for Monday 2 November. For it to go ahead, the hospital must receive cleared funds by Friday 30 October. Cleared funds are money that has fully reached the account, so the hospital can rely on it.

The diagnosis has also affected her career. Jiear has cancelled work worth tens of thousands of pounds because she is unable to work.

Her stage credits include Sister Act, Three Little Pigs and Grease. She appeared in the film adaptation of Les Misérables. In 2004 she received an Olivier Award nomination for her role in Jerry Springer: The Opera, one of the main prizes for British theatre, run by the Society of London Theatre. In 2015 she reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent.

Many people in the theatre world know her work from the stage, and her appeal is now asking the public to help with the cost of her treatment.