Nick Howells of The Distant South and Liz Stringer have launched an urgent appeal to assist their friend and someone very dear to our extended music community: Renee Bufton.
Renee is well known and loved by many as a bright, warm and wonderful presence in our music scene as a musician and regular face at gigs across Melbourne.
In recent years, she has been adding violin/fiddle and gorgeous harmonies to bands like The Distant South and Paper Jane.
Tragically for Renee and her young family, she experienced seizures in June of this year in her left arm and leg. Her Gofundme page explains: “after many tests and a brain biopsy, Ren has been diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastma – the most aggressive type of brain tumour. Following the biopsy, Ren also had a bleed on the brain – and woke from surgery to find that she was unable to use her left arm and leg … leaving her quite disabled.”
At present she is back with her family and undergoing intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Her condition means she can’t do what she loves or earn much needed income.
Funds raised will help Renee and her family meet their needs at this most challenging time and assist with other essentials like a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
We know there’s a huge amount of heart in our music community, so please dig deep to make a difference to someone who’s enriched our lives as a musician and all round beautiful human being. We send our best wishes for Renee’s health and thank everyone who gets behind this campaign. The more shares and support the merrier.
