A fundraising drive has been launched to raise more than $40,000 to help pay for the medical treatment of a young Bermudian woman who is facing a life threatening disease.

Lori Mello, 24 was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin?s Lymphoma in May this year and has already undergone six rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and radiation treatments to battle the cancer that has ravaged her body.

The first rounds of chemotherapy failed to rid her of the devastating disease and Ms Mello will now head back to the Dana Farmer Institute in Boston next week for another aggressive round of treatment.

It will include two additional rounds of chemotherapy in preparation for a stem-cell transplant, followed by a further eight weeks of high-dose chemotherapy.

Her family has already paid thousands of dollars towards the medical treatments, but they received further bad news when they were informed that their insurance company would only cover 75 per cent of the $175,000 stem-cell transplant.

Her family and friends have now launched a series of fund raising efforts to raise at least $43,000 to help cover the cost of the stem-cell transplant.

The first fundraising initiative will take place next Friday when her cousin Brian Morris, the head golf professional at the Belmont Hills Golf Club, will play golf non-stop for 24 hours.

Mr. Morris told : ?Her medical expenses to date have already exceeded the maximum annual coverage allowed by her insurance company. Her family is already facing thousands of dollars in bills due to travel expenses, cost of living and outstanding medical bills.

?After her first round of treatment we expected that she would be given a clean bill of health, but the news was grim because the tumour was still there and growing.?

He encouraged the public to support the 24-hour golf-a-thon.

?Please pledge your support to this event taking place at the Belmont Hills Golf Course and know that your dollars can help an extraordinary young woman have at least a fighting chance at life.?

If you are interested in supporting the golf-a-thon please contact Mr. Morris at 505-2599 or 236-6400.