Zayn Malik's 'aunt' has defended the One Direction star after he made a public plea to fans, asking them to help fund her cancer treatment. Zayn had tweeted a link to a GoFundMe page set up for his mum's best friend, Ayesha Butt, who is suffering from lung cancer. But he came under fire from some social media users who suggested that he should pay for the treatment himself. Taking to the page on Monday, Ayesha wrote: "I'm so pleased that you genuine peeps are still donating and helping my cause. I've had a fabulous response to my page and posts, from both friends and strangers, but this response is tinged with sadness for me…"
Zayn Malik recently shared a link to Ayesha's GoFundMe page
She continued: "I asked my 'nephew' Zayn Malik to drum up some publicity for me, by way of highlighting my page and illness via Twitter. This has had an adverse effect on him as the spiteful trolls are attacking him for his kindness. Never, ever would I ask him for financial help in any way, and I wouldn't want it any other way. My request was for him to enlighten the public of my sad plight, and he did exactly as I asked. So come on you trolls, give him a break please and let's just get on with the fundraising."
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© Photo: Getty ImagesThe former One Direction star with model girlfriend Gigi Hadid
In an earlier post, Ayesha shared the moments she was diagnosed with terminal "non-small cell lung cancer" in September 2015. "That's when the words that no person ever wants to hear came, and that was: 'You have cancer'," wrote Ayesha, who has a 15-year-old daughter of the same name. She also explained that her only hope is chemotherapy at a clinic in Istanbul, which treats patients with stage four cancer. "We have searched and not another place in the world can offer me anything close to this," she said. "So please help me to stay with my daughter for much longer. This I know is going to cost thousands and we already have raised £35,000 from savings etc. For me to immediately start on session one – my first, intense, three-week treatment plan made for me. Session two, a ten-day plan, is also covered. The next ten sessions will hopefully be funded by well-wishers."
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