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The Irish coffee-lovers community have rallied together to help raise almost $45,000 for a cancer-stricken barista in a week.

Champion brewer Rashel Winn has been battling cervical cancer for almost a year now and when she took a turn for the worse two weeks ago, the coffee community in Dublin came together to help.

The money has been used to fly the 28-year-old’s devoted father Eric to Dublin from his home in Seattle and to support him here.

It will also be used to fly her to Chicago for specialist treatment when she is stronger.

Her husband Seamus Lawlor told the Irish Mirror: “It’s quite incredible what a week can do for a situation.

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“Rashel was diagnosed with cervical cancer on April 15 last year but she hadn’t been feeling well for a while.

“She had surgery but a few months laster she was in discomfort and pain and we found out it had come back.

“She had a hysterectomy and started chemotherapy but in November she developed an infection and had to stop treatment.

“We found out two weeks ago that the good affects of chemo had been undone and we were told they might not be able to cure it, so we had to act.”

He set up the Go Fund Me page on March 14 with a target of $25,000 - which was reached within 24 hours.

Rashel’s father invested in American health insurance for her and met with medics who said that they might be able to help her.

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The owners of 3fe donated and didn’t charge for coffee last Friday, instead asking people to donate to a bucket for the fund.

3fe owner Colin Harmon wrote on their website: “Rashel is one of the most charismatic and warm people I’ve ever met and after a few mails back and forth we’ve decided to do something for her that will hopefully help in the coming weeks and months.”

Love Supreme cafe in Stoneybatter followed suit, they donated all proceeds from sales of her award-winning coffee brew over the weekend to the fund.

They also painted the words For Rashel over their door.

(Image: Love Supreme Facebook)

Seamus said that he and Rashel - who is currently recovering in St Vincent’s Hospital - are overwhelmed by the public’s generosity.

The 36-year-old musician said: “This time last week the world was a much grimmer place, it’s still not easy but it makes such a difference to know that people care.

“She started working in coffee about three years ago and it became a passion for her. She mostly works in The Fumbally and she loves the community and they love her.

“I think the outpouring has possibly been because Rashel is a wonderfully positive person and even through all this I’ve never even seen her get close to a bad place.

“Being in discomfort and pain for months can get to even the most positive of people though.

“Since this outpouring of generosity and support we’ve realised we’re not alone and I think her morale, my morale and everyone’s spirits have been brought back up.

To donate click here .

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