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MATT LONG: SUPPORT GIGS

Following his diagnosis with bowel cancer, Matt Long, the outstanding guitar player and
singer in Catfish and The Revenant Ones, underwent sessions of chemo-therapy. A few
weeks ago, BiTS received this email from his mother Fiona:

‘Matt has been battling bowel cancer for just under a year
and despite surgery and chemo, his latest scan shows that
the cancer has spread into his liver and stomach lining.

His cancer team have said although there is the option
of trying a different type of chemo, they don’t hold out
much hope that it will cure him and is likely to at

best extend his life a little.

There is an option to have a sample of the
tumour sequenced which will give us the

maximum amount of information on its
make up, which will then show the cancer
team exactly what drugs to use to
damage it – to either slow it down,

or there is just a small chance that
they may be able to kill it.

‘Obviously, we want to give him access to
absolutely everything that might give him a
chance. The only access to this treatment is via the

private route which is going to be expensive – just the sequencing,
which involves sending a sample of the tumour to the USA to a
specialist lab, is a little under £3k and any drugs will apparently be
about £3k a month after that. We will fund what we can as a family, but

obviously any ‘fighting fund’ you can give us would be very much appreciated.

‘Without any treatment, his cancer team have told us he won’t make it past the end of this year.

With the access to sequencing, if it turns out to be something specific they have drugs for, he may
have a 15% chance of survival. That has to be worth a shot.’

As a result of this significant and global support for Matt Long and his family, the blues, rock, and

music community will be coming together for a series of five special benefit shows across the United
Kingdom with each being held at a different venue and location which holds a special place in
Catfish’s heart. All funds from all the shows will go directly towards Matt Long’s medical treatment

fund. A different multi-talented lineup (as well as some unannounced special guests) will perform
at the venues shown overleaf (Lineups subject to change).

To Donate to the GoFundMe click the image of Matt above.