An official Crowdfunder campaign has been launched to help Optimo's JD Twitch, aka Keith McIvor, access urgent care and symptom-easing therapies in the wake of his terminal brain tumour diagnosis.
In a message shared via the Glasgow duo's Instagram today (15th July), McIvor's wife Marissa said she launched the crowdfunding page "after [receiving] so many kind messages from friends and fans around the world asking how to help".
Funds will be used to continue to pay for his accessible nursing accommodations while he awaits acceptance for NHS facilities, support services such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and counselling, and transport and palliative care essentials.
Marissa gave an update on JD Twitch's condition since he announced he had a terminal brain tumour (glioblastoma) earlier this month. "Keith now requires 24-hour nursing care", she wrote on Crowdfunder. "His condition has affected his speech, his mobility and his independence. While he’s managed to take a few supported steps, he’s extremely vulnerable and needs constant assistance to do so safely. Referral by the NHS to a hospice in Glasgow would make everything much simpler. However, his symptoms are not currently advanced or severe enough to justify a successful referral, nor is it easy to predict when this might be the case."
She added: "While Keith's condition is extremely serious and likely to progress quickly, he's not currently in pain, can communicate well with patience, and is still present as the Keith we know and love. He can now connect to those most important to him in a better environment — with a determined group of friends and family around him, ready to do whatever we can to help him with what he wants and needs."
So far the Crowdfunder has raised more than £57,000 since launching yesterday, 14th July, surpassing its goal of £50,000. Any leftover funds will be donated to charities selected by JD Twitch: Glasgow NW Foodbank, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER), Brains Trust and Taki’s Shelter, Crete.
Donate to JD Twitch's Crowdfunder here.
Last year, JD Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes celebrated the 25th anniversary of their landmark club night, Optimo (Espacio) at Glasgow's Sub Club, with a two-part double-vinyl compilation. Read Kristan J. Caryl's review of 'Optimo 25 (Vol 1 & 2)' from 2024.