Buddies of the festival lover, who has weeks to live, vow to take him to Glastonbury over ‘dying wish’

Mason Nigel Stonehouse, 58, has been diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer and his friends are determined to get him a helicopter to Glastonbury so he can fulfill his ‘dying wish’.

Friends of a big hearted festival lover who has been told he has weeks to live are desperate to fulfill his ‘last wish’ to make it to Glastonbury one last time.

Nigel Stonehouse, described as the “kindest soul ever”, was “thrilled and excited” at the festival’s final return in the wake of the pandemic.

Nigel, 58, a bricklayer from Hartlepool, has been taking his friends from across the country to Glastonbury for the past 30 years.

He was due to join them at one of the biggest festivals in the world on Wednesday and was delighted to see Diana Ross perform.

But he recently received the heartbreaking news that his kidney cancer had spread to his lungs and he now has just weeks to live.

Now his friends are determined to help him in his final days and are raising funds to pay for a helicopter to take him there as he cannot travel long distances without medical assistance.

They have raised £6,000 so far and Glastonbury festival bosses say their on-site medics will be waiting to help him.

One of his close friends, Gemma Thornton, 36, from London, said: “He’s the kindest soul ever and we love him so much. he is so gentle

“But he’s happiest when he’s in a field with his friends and listening to his favorite band.

“It would mean the world to him to get there one last time.”

Fat boy Norman Cook donated to the GoFundMe campaign and tweeted to friends to say, “I have donated and will ask my friends to do the same. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone who owns a helicopter.”

The appeal for Nigel, released over the weekend, read: “All who love Glastonbury and hold it in a special place in their hearts call for help. This is Nige, he’s 58 years old and he’s a Glastonbury veteran! A wonderful kind man who is special to all who know him.

“Nige was diagnosed with kidney cancer in mid-May; it had unfortunately already spread to his lungs.

“In the last week Nige has taken a sudden turn and has been told that his cancer is not only incurable but is also fast progressing and aggressive. He was told he probably has a few weeks left.

“Nige had planned to be at Glastonbury with all of us next week and he has made it his dying wish for the last time to make it there, if only for a few hours.

“He is currently an in-patient at North Tees Hospital and their wonderful palliative care team have assured him that they will do everything they can to make this happen.

“Within hours they had contacted the festival site managers who said they would support in any way they could.

“Unfortunately there is no more space in the accessible areas (Nige has a general sale ticket) but they will facilitate entry via the accessible car park.

“Now for the hard part! Taking Nige all the way there…..

“This is obviously a HUGE undertaking and will be costly. The palliative care team suggested hiring a helicopter to take him there and back – the first offer we received is £12,000.

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“We are asking anyone who is able to make a donation, however small, to try and help us make this happen.

“We are aware that this will be logistically huge and that we have very little time, but we want to move heaven and earth to get him there. It would mean the world to Nige and to all who love him.

“If anyone has any ideas, connections or anything that could help us make this happen (logistically or financially or in any way possible) and fulfill Nigel’s last wish, we will forever be in your debt and eternally grateful.

“We are also aware that even if we do raise the funds, Nige may be too sick to get there. In this case, the funds will be donated to charities in Glastonbury.”

The friends are hoping to take him there on Sunday to watch Diana Ross play Legends slot.

If you want to help Nigel and his friends you can donate here.