An art auction to raise money for cancer patient Brett Meyer has raised more than $100,000 - double the amount hoped for. Kate Jones Madill and daughter Rebecca Meyer put 18 pieces of artwork up for auction at Caesar's Buffet and Bar in Tauranga last night, with 250 people attending theevent. The pair were raising money for Mrs Meyer's husband, who has had surgery twice and spent 15 months undergoing chemotherapy. Because the public system cannot do any more for him, Mr Meyer needs funding to cover a new procedure to treat his cancer-riddled liver. And at last night's auction the family were astounded by the generosity of people in the Western Bay, not just in money but also in helping with all aspects of the event. "We had dreams of raising $50,000, this has just blown us away," Kate's husband, Roger Madill, said today. "We just can't say thank you enough. As Kate said, if we get through this challenge we'd like to support and carry on with the charitable trust." The auction also included a weekend away at a retreat and magnums of wine. Artworks fetched between $2600 and $9000 each. Mr Meyer - a father of two - was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer 2 1/2 years ago. But after successful surgery, the cancer spread to his liver and he was given 12 months to live. The treatment he is being offered by specialist Richard Stubbs involves injecting millions of tiny radioactive particles into his liver via his hepatic artery.
