Death robs cancer sufferer of chance to see brother

Gina Forrest's student colleagues and workmates had raised $8000 to fly her brother to New Zealand. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

A Wanganui woman has been denied her dying wish to see her Filipino brother, as the community rallied to raise $8000 to bring him to New Zealand.

Gina Forrest, 48 passed away over the weekend after being given a few weeks to live because of liver cancer.

When she expressed a wish to see her older brother Supicio Yabo once more "to talk of memories and their lives", locals pulled out all the stops, money pouring in and embassies fast-tracking visa applications.

The pair hadn't seen each other for more than 10 years and neither could afford to pay for the flights to bring him out from the Philippines.

Ms Forrest's second-year UCOL nursing student colleagues, together with her workmates from Countdown Supermarket, where she has worked for nearly a decade, launched an appeal.

After little more than a week, the fund stood at $8000 - enough to bring out Ms Forrest's 25-year-old nephew, Gerald, as well.

It has not yet been decided what will happen to the money raised.

- NZPA