Margie Mackay

Our darling big sister has just found out she has stage 4, inoperable cancer.

After living abroad in order to provide for her family, Asi now needs to get home to her children and she urgently requires significant financial assistance in order to afford potentially life saving treatment.

Asi's only choice is, for many reasons at this stage, to return to Zimbabwe and once there to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. These are an expense that her family cannot possibly afford to meet without your financial help.


Melina (or 'Asi' - being Chewa for 'big sister') is a generous and deeply loving soul who has lived abroad from her four children for almost 10 years, working as a nanny in order to raise funds for her own children's survival in Zim. One can only imagine what a sacrifice this must have been for her - living away from her kids during such formative years in their young lives. Gilbert and I applaud what devotion she has shown as a single mother, in making such a difficult and selfless life choice for the benefit of her children.

After having had enough of a niggling & seemingly minor throat irritation for some weeks, Asi recently visited the doctor who immediately had her admitted to hospital. From there the tragic and totally unexpected diagnosis of stage 4, inoperable, esophageal cancer was made. Asi has never smoked or drank alcohol in her life.
Asi's only hope now lies in urgently needed medical treatment (chemotherapy & radiotherapy) and to be surrounded by the healing and comforting love of her family in Zimbabwe.

ZIMBABWE TODAY
As experienced in many African countries, life is exceptionally tough in Zimbabwe. With a current unemployment rate between 95 - 97%, and no welfare or medical support available, Asi's family have little possibility of finding any means of supporting themselves and funding their mother's much needed treatment. Zimbabwe has one of the highest cost of living rates in Africa, and after 30 years of societal and political unrest, a buckling health system and widespread epidemics of cholera and HIV infection, it is vital that Asi receive the best possible treatment she can afford, and that her children also stay healthy and positive to assist in her care.

Pledges of ANY amount will be hugely welcome and very gratefully received - or you can choose from one of the 'reward' amounts.

Funds will be used to pay for Asi's medical treatment of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy for at least the next 6 months - and to support her and her children during this period.

Should there be any funds in excess of the target amount, Asi has asked that monies go towards her youngest children's education (Dennis & Malcolm), and to support the family through this difficult time.

School fees for more than a very basic education, whilst not expensive by Western standards, are a huge financial burden in a Zimbabwean context. Asi's eldest son Dennis has recently shown great academic promise in the boarding school that his mother has sent him to - a result of her years of hard work abroad. The fees are roughly $600 per school term, and yet as he is only 15 and his younger brother 10, there are a few years of school fees in front of them both at this stage - which is a huge source of concern and worry for Asi.
In the 3rd world a good education really is precious.

Pledges of ANY amount will be hugely welcome and very gratefully received - or you can choose from one of the 'reward' amounts.

The main challenges to the success of this project - are that not enough funds are raised to afford the vital treatment - which is expensive in Zimbabwe.

Pledges of ANY amount will be hugely welcome and very gratefully received - or you can choose from one of the 'reward' amounts and even decide to contribute in an ongoing fashion.