…family thanks TellZim for spreading their plea for help
TellZim Reporter
A Chivi teenager, Tatenda Mupfurashanga (17) who has a tumor growing on his face since he was four years old will finally get surgery done on him by March 31, 2023 after well-wishers heeded to the family’s plea for financial assistance.
Mupfurashanga was in need of US$850 for the surgery and the family could not raise it until well-wishers chipped in following a publication of his story by TellZim News.
Chivi Ward 16 Community Rehabilitation officer Albert Imbayarwo who together with Mupfurashanga’s parents cares for the teenager said since the story was published they began to receive donations from well-wishers who would sent the money via mobile money remittance facilities, and within a few weeks they had managed to raise over half of the bill.
“Following publication of our plea for help by TellZim on Feb 21, I believe the story went viral because we started to receive donations from well-wishers, and by March 8 we had managed to raise US$400 plus ZW$130 000 and R1000.
“We then managed to organize a fundraising activity as Simbaradzo Disability Club where we called upon Non-Governmental Organisations, CBOs and churches on March 15 to come and contribute towards the bill.
Imbayarwo said Tatenda’s life had been altered because of the growth, and it was important that he got into surgery as soon as he can as it could eventually become life threatening.
“Tatenda has a bright future if he gets the required medical assistance. I want to thank TellZim for mainstreaming disability as well as reaching to the diaspora community which contributed much to the required medical bill.
“We raised a total of US$1400, R2000 and ZW$130 000. We are very grateful for that and we can now book for the surgery this month,” Imbayarwo said.
Mupfurashanga will be operated at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare by March 31 this year.
