Crowdfunding bid by Felixstowe couple to pay for IVF treatment

15:31 10 April 2015

Richard Cornwell

A Suffolk man who was told he and his partner will not be eligible for IVF treatment on the NHS has launched a crowdfunding bid to raise the cash for private treatment.

Matthew Shapland, of Felixstowe, suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a condition which causes the majority of male sufferers to be naturally infertile.

The 23-year-old and his partner, Berenice, who has a daughter Selena, four, from a previous relationship, have been trying for a baby for three years. They applied to the Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for exceptional funding for the IVF treatment, but was refused.

Now Mr Shapland has launched a webpage appealing for people to help them and family, friends and well-wishers are already offering support.

Mr Shapland said he was not relying on the crowdfunding project to fund all of the 5,000 needed for one cycle of IVF.

He said: We have been saving up and will be putting that money into the pot, too.

We have already had three anonymous donations, which has been brilliant.

This is really our last chance. After the refusal of the NHS funding we were left with no other options.

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Crowdfunding bid by Felixstowe couple to pay for IVF treatment