News

HOME: Derrick wants to spend as much time as possible with his family in Clarendon

UK charity ask for donations to give Jamaican more time with his family

A UK charity has called for kind-hearted strangers and organisations to donate money to help a dying Jamaican man afford a treatment that could prolong the time he gets to spend with his family before his death.

The Thames Reach homeless charity is hoping to raise an additional 4,000 pounds to help pay for at least three months of dialysis treatment for Jamaican-born Derrick Riddell, who has decided to return to the Caribbean island to spend his last few months of life on the island he loves.

Riddell, 65, is battling kidney failure, heart problems and now incurable lung cancer, which has spread so much that doctors have given him between six weeks and three months to live.

He told The Voice last week that he just wants to go home to his “ranch” and his loved ones in May Pen, Clarendon.

“I have never really felt that this place should be my home,” said Riddell, who came to the UK five years ago and said his belief in “the Almighty” helped him through rough times, such as homelessness in this country.

“As long as I am conscious, each and every day I say a prayer and I know that’s what keeps me going,” he said.

Riddell said he missed his loved ones. “The best thing for me is to be in Jamaica because it’s my home,” said the former gardener. “I have my own little ranch with my big, fat wife and every convenience around.”

Riddell, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer just six months ago, has overcome heart surgery but also needs dialysis three times a week. Thames Reach, which helped pay his fare to Jamaica, also wants to help Riddell pay for a few months of dialysis there.

“We literally want to buy him some time with his family,” said

Tony Waters, manager at the Thames Reach Graham House hostel in Vauxhall, south London, where Riddell lived for three years.

“We have already pledged £,2000. That will buy him a month and we hope to fund him for a couple more months,” Waters said. “(Without dialysis) renal failure will kill him within a few days….”

Riddell had dreamt about going home for years but lack of money – and subsequent renal failure and other health conditions – stopped him from flying to Jamaica.

“The first thing I will do is to give my wife a big hug and let her know I am back home,” he said.

“When you have to stay away from home, it’s burdensome,” said Riddell, who last Thursday finally got to go back to Jamaica.

He added: “I don’t beg (but) I do appreciate whatever assistance or help can be achieved because I know it won’t be easy there.”

* Thames Reach has set up a website where people can donate money to help Derrick Riddell: www.justgiving.com/derrickriddle

Published: 28 July 2010
Issue: 0

site comments powered by Disqus