The family of beloved Mary Tyler Moore Show star Valerie Harper, who has struggled with cancer for years, is seeking money for her care through a GoFundMe campaign.
Harper was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009. Then, in March 2013, she revealed that she had developed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a condition in which cancer cells invade the tissue protecting the brain and spinal cord.
RELATED STORY:
Now, the Valerie Harper Cancer Support Fund is raising money to help pay for her medical treatment and other health costs not covered by health insurance. As of Monday afternoon, more than 135 people had contributed $5,640. The campaign statement reads:
“Valerie has been grateful over the years for the medical breakthroughs along this difficult journey but insurance doesn’t cover everything. There are unrelenting medical costs on a continuous basis. Valerie is currently taking a multitude of medications and chemotherapy drugs as well as going through extreme physical and painful challenges now with around the clock, 24/7 care immediately needed which is not covered by insurance. This is just part of the daily cost that is without a doubt a financial burden that could never be met alone. This GoFundMe initiative from [her husband] Tony [Cacciotti], is to ensure she receives the best care possible.”
Yahoo Entertainment has reached out to Harper’s team for comment.
RELATED STORY:
Harper won four Emmys for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and spinoff Rhoda in the ‘70s. Both were among the most popular shows of the decade. She went on to star in her own sitcom, Valerie, in 1986 and has continued to appear on shows such as Sex and the City, Drop Dead Diva, The Office and The Simpsons. Her most recent credit is voice work on an April 2019 episode of the animated series American Dad! according to IMDb.
Since 1987, Harper has been married to actor and producer Tony Cacciotti, and she’s called him an “incredible” caregiver.
You can find Harper’s GoFundMe HERE.
