Domino's organise doughraiser for Gold Coast hairdresser Megy Gough
A major pizza chain is helping to raise money for a selfless Gold Coast woman who helped fund the wedding of cancer survivors before receiving her own terminal diagnosis. HOW TO HELP >>>
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DOMINO’S stores across the Gold Coast are raising money for a selfless woman who helped fund the wedding of cancer survivors before receiving her own terminal diagnosis.
Megy Gough had to give up hairdressing when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in late 2019 and given five years to live.
She relocated to Sydney to receive treatment and in April this year she told the Bulletin her husband was unable to work and they were facing financial hardship to raise their four-year-old daughter Harper.
Nine Domino’s stores from Pacific Pines to Palm Beach are coming together on Thursday for a Doughraiser campaign.
A GoFundMe page set up for Mrs Gough will receive $1 for every pizza sold on the night.
Nicole van Jole is the franchisee of multiple Domino’s stores on the Gold Coast with her husband Nathan.
Mrs van Jole said it was incredibly important to give back to those within the community.
“When I first heard about Megan Gough I was eager to offer as much support as we could,” she said.
“This cancer means she may never have the chance to grow old with the love of her life Justin or see her gorgeous daughter Harper grow up.
“I can’t imagine how devastating this must be for Megan and her family.”
Mrs Gough is well known in the community for her Megy & Co hair salon (formerly The Style Room) and organising 30 vendors to help gift a $50,000 “pay it forward” wedding for cancer survivors Rebecca Limb and Matt McLean.
“Megan has a heart of gold and I understand she needs the same support she has so generously given others in our community,” Ms van Jole said.
“As a small-business owner, I have the power to help make a difference for people like Megan and I will never take that for granted.
“We hope to raise more than $4000. These funds will help to give her the best chance of fighting this cancer and accessing lifesaving integrated cancer treatments.
“We appreciate any and all support the local community can offer to help this beautiful Gold Coast family during this extremely difficult time.”
The Domino’s stores participating in the Doughraiser are: Mermaid Beach, Palm Beach, Robina, West Burleigh, Surfers Paradise, Surfers Paradise South, Hope Island, Oxenford and Pacific Pines.
You can donate to Mrs Gough’s GoFundMe here.
Coast bridal identity's coma hell
April 7, 2021
HAVING survived the "mother of all surgeries" last year in her fierce battle with bowel cancer, young mum Megy Gough is back fighting for her life.
Speaking from Sydney, after surgery in March to have spots on her lungs and liver removed, Mrs Gough said she was struggling after complications from a liver resection.
"I was put in a coma for five days from liver failure and my lung collapsed again. I'm still recovering and awaiting lung ablation to get rid of the cancerous nodes," said the 32-year-old Gold Coaster.
"We were hoping to be home by now, just waiting to see when it can be done."
Not usually one to ask for help, Ms Gough said her husband was unable to work and together they were caring for their four-year-old daughter Harper. The young family is facing ongoing financial hardship.
"Unfortunately, life doesn't stop when you're sick," she said.
" We have so many expenses and the only reason we could afford to go last year (to NSW for surgery) was because of the Go Fund Me (Help Megy beat cancer) account my friend set up for me."
Three years ago, in her role as bridal hairstylist for Megy & Co (formerly The Style Room), Mrs Gough rallied 30 vendors to help gift a $50,000 wedding to cancer survivors Rebecca Limb and Matt McLean, now her friends.
"I've always struggled and hated asking for help. I would prefer to help. But I realised you either ask for help or you could potentially never see your daughter grow up. I knew I had to ask for financial help."
Last year Mrs Gough was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer after putting down her symptoms, overwhelming fatigue and occasional stomach pains, to pure exhaustion.
She underwent 17 rounds of chemo and after doctors in Queensland "denied" her surgery, she found a surgical oncologist in Sydney who took on her case.
In August she had a peritonectomy, as known as the "mother of all surgeries", whereby half of her bowel was removed as well as 75 per cent of her liver, gallbladder, appendix and stomach lining. Suffering multiple complications, code blues, being readmitted three times, she was discharged after eight weeks.
A scan in November found two little nodules, thought to be scars from her major surgery. However, in February this year the family got the heartbreaking news that the nodules had grown in size and become active, and that cysts on her ovaries may be cancer.
They family decided to return to NSW for surgery that Mrs Gough hopes will allow her to watch Harper grow up.
Mrs Gough wants other young business owners to listen to their bodies and put their health at the top of their lists.
To donate to help Megy beat cancer, please visit here.
Virus crippling blow for Gold Coast mum fighting cancer
April 3, 2020
BATTLING inoperable stage four bowel cancer is horrific enough, but throw in a global pandemic, unemployment and dwindling funds and it becomes agonising.
Megy Gough is just 31 and undergoing the fight of her life to ensure she can be alive to watch her three-year-old daughter Harper grow up.
She and husband Justin were desperately trying to fund integrative oncology but they’ve both recently lost their jobs and now using any money they had to put food on the table.
“It’s scary times so we’re just isolating and because hubby has been laid off at work we have started to have to spend my treatment money on living,” she said.
“I’ve never been someone to ask for help but I’m getting a little scared about my future.”
The gutsy Gold Coaster was diagnosed late last year after blaming symptoms of the disease on being overworked and tired.
“I put my health to last priority, I didn’t feel like it was important and could be dealt with later. It is the biggest regret of my life. It took me more than six months to go to the doctors,” she said.
Three years ago the award-winning hairdresser started The Style Room and poured hours into making her life a success. She put her cancer symptoms, overwhelming fatigue and occasional stomach pains, down to pure exhaustion.
By the time she was diagnosed doctors said her cancer was inoperable. It had spread to her liver and lymph nodes and she had three-to-five years to live.
But she’s hell bent on fighting the insidious disease for husband Justin and their three-year-old “ball of happiness” Harper.
“My heart breaks at the thought of not being able to watch her grow up to be the woman that we’re raising her to be. But, for her I know I have to fight this disease,” she said.
OVARIAN CANCER HEARTFELT WARNING TO WOMEN OF THE GOLD COAST
Despite her positivity, Mrs Gough has been told the chemo she needs for her advanced cancer won’t cure her and just buys her more time. And because of the debilitating side effects, she can only be on it for a limited time.
“I want to start integrative oncology to give me a chance of living longer and possibly get to remission. The only thing stopping me from starting these treatments is the cost.”
These treatments are not covered by Medicare and likely to cost more than $50,000.
Mrs Gough kept her diagnosis a secret for three months and it was her sister who set up a GoFundMe page for her.
In fact, after a bumper first year in business Mrs Gough wanted to pay it forward and so rallied 30 vendors to help gift a $50,000 wedding to cancer survivors Rebecca Limb and Matt McLean.
CANCER SURVIVOR CELEBRATES 50TH BY FUNDRAISING FOR CANCER COUNCIL
“After the wedding I was providing her with assistance around growth shampoos, to help with her hair regrowth after her chemotherapy. Now the tables have turned. I could never have imagined that I would be walking down the same tough road though just a couple of years later,” she said.
A fundraiser for Mrs Gough’s treatment has been cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, but offers of help or support can be sent to megyfundraising@gmail.com.
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