Ashley Cain says pharmaceutical companies WON’T release life-saving drugs for daughter’s leukemia

Ashley Cain has revealed pharmaceutical companies are not releasing the life-saving drugs needed to beat his daughter Azaylia’s leukemia battle.

The Ex On The Beach star, 30, whose baby girl is currently undergoing her fourth round of chemotherapy, took to Instagram on Sunday to admit he’s in ‘heavy talks’ with consultants and doctors in an attempt to change the businesses’ decision. 

As of Monday, his GoFundMe fundraiser for his seven-month-old’s treatment reached £1.4million, with donations from the likes of Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague and Maura Higgins.

The reality star said: ‘We found out today that one of the essential drugs we need tomorrow to bring her leukemia counts down and get her into remission is not being released by the pharmaceutical companies.

‘Not only today have I been looking after Azaylia, but going through heavy talks with consultants, doctors and the companies themselves to try and get this essential drug that Azaylia needs.’ 

The media personality had asked fans for help in donating earlier in the weekend, explaining the treatment his daughter needs is only available in Singapore.

Ashley later uploaded a sweet image of his brave baby as he revealed she’ll undergo another bone marrow test on Wednesday.

He wrote: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have raised over one million pounds in less than 24 hours! We are so overwhelmed by the support we have received and cannot begin to express our deep gratitude and thanks to you all.  

‘There’s a old proverb that says ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and YOU are our village. Without your kind and generous donations Azaylia would not be able to get the treatment she so desperately needs. ❤️

‘*UPDATE* With all of your help, we can now begin the process, starting with another bone marrow test on Wednesday. 

‘Along with a lumber puncture, for samples of cerebrospinal fluid and blood to be sent to Singapore, via a special 48 hour delivery process, to preserve cells for them to begin tests and create a CAR treatment for Azaylia’s disease. 

‘Meanwhile here in the UK, consultants are working hard to control Azaylia’s disease with further chemotherapy to get her into remission and ready for us to embark on our greatest journey yet!’  

The former footballer also revealed he’ll be going on a 150-mile charity bike ride with his dad and brother to ‘honour’ Azaylia’s battle.

He added: ‘*ANNOUNCEMENT* It’s important to us to give back to everyone who supports us as well as honour the battle Azaylia, and all childhood cancer patients are going through. Therefore, I’m pleased to announce the charity bike ride we’ve been organising this past week.

‘Myself, my dad and my brother will be cycling a 150 mile ride from Birmingham Children’s hospital to London. The ride will be gruelling both mentally & physically, but nothing compared to the challenges Azaylia and other Likkle Lions face on a daily basis. 

‘Together, we have built a community who can change the world for the better. Primarily for Azaylia to continue treatment and go on to live a life that she deserves and secondly to help others battling this terrible disease. 

‘No parent or child should have to go through this experience and we, know first hand, how difficult this process is. 

‘So our aim for this ride is not only to help my daughter get the treatment she needs, but have enough money to support the families that will be following us which may not have the network of support that we have. 

‘I will post more information this week but for now, from Azaylia, Safiyya, myself and all my family.. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our HEARTS.’ (sic)

Ashley said the medication, CAR-T therapy, as ‘the only option to save Azaylia’s life’ and said he and partner Safiyya Vorajee, may have to fly out in a matter of weeks, adding it will take a minimum of one year. 

Earlier in the day, the influencer thanked his supporters for surpassing his goal of £1million to fund the therapy.

Ashley said in a video message: ‘I am absolutely lost for words. I’m overwhelmed at the sheer amount of support that you guys have given us. 

‘People have shared the post, donated – honestly the amount of kindness that you’ve shown, the amount you have helped us, it’s just incredible. Me and my family are eternally grateful to you guys!’ 

‘I went on my phone to see thousands of messages, I thought they were going to say we were close but the fact that we’ve hit it and we’re way above is just incredible! So listen guys thank you! Thank yo so much!’ 

Love Island stars Molly-Mae, 21, and Maura, 30, donated £1,000 each, while PrettyLittleThing’s founder Umar Kamani, 33, who is currently the highest donor, gave a staggering £20,000.

The page raised over £1.2million in just 16hours, according to The Sun, with over 86,000 people donating in total. 

Fellow Ex On The Beach star Jemma Lucy sent in £1,000, while Chet Johnson donated £10,000 through his clothing company Faded.

Other famous names included Mrs Hinch, who gave £3,000, and Marvin Humes who donated £500.     

Ashley penned a detailed account of Azaylia’s health battle on his GoFundMe page and said that any extra funds the couple receive will be donated to other families in a similar situation to them. 

He wrote: ‘This is our first and only child and we’ve spent the first 7 months of parenthood in hospital under COVID restrictions fighting a battle that no parent should ever have to face.

‘Please give us a chance to continue fighting so this journey wasn’t all for nothing and our daughter can have the chance of life that she’s been fighting so hard for!

‘We will be donating any extra money to other children and their families in the same situation as us – we pledged to give back to this community from the moment we were thrust into it and that is something we will always honour.

‘Thank you all for your energy, love, support and prayers – it lifts us and carries us through this terrifying journey.’

CAR-T, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, therapy involved reprogramming the patient’s own immune system cells which are then used to target the cancer.

According to the NHS, it is a ‘highly complex and potentially risky treatment’ but has been shown in trials to cure some patients when other treatments have failed.  

Azaylia was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia when she was just two months old.

Ashley said he has spent the first seven months of fatherhood under Covid-19 restrictions in hospital as his daughter fought the cancer.

Doctors told the TV star and his partner Safiyya that chemotherapy would not be enough to cure Azaylia. 

Earlier in the month, the model revealed the heartbreaking news that his little girl has relapsed amid her leukaemia battle. 

He issued an update after she underwent a bone marrow test on Tuesday to see if she was leukaemia free.

Ashley revealed the news that Azaylia had relapsed and that he and Safiyya were ‘devastated’ as they have been left with ‘very few options’ with the family immediately admitted back into hospital. 

The doting father added that they currently only have one possible solution to ‘save Azaylia’s life’ and it will see the trio leave the country in a matter of days to embark on a ‘year long journey’ to help his ‘beautiful little girl’.