We got you: Kenyans raise over KSh 1.2m for cancer patient after failed harambee
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- In a beautiful show of solidarity, Kenyans have contributed overwhelmingly for a teenager battling cancer
- Risper had lost hope of ever receiving treatment after invitees snubbed her initial fundraiser, leaving her with empty chairs
- The funds pushed her cancer treatment fund to KSh 2.2 million, leaving her only KSh 500,000 short of the target
A teenage girl battling cancer has been given a powerful reason to fight on after Kenyans turned what began as a devastating fundraising failure into a remarkable outpouring of generosity.
Risper, 17, is seeking KSh 2.6 million for specialised cancer treatment in India after being diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal cancer.
From Empty Seats to KSh 1.2m
Her family had organised a Harambee to raise funds, but the day ended in heartbreak when she and her mother were reportedly left sitting in a hall with rows of empty seats around them.
A video capturing that painful moment circulated widely online and moved thousands of Kenyans to act.
Prior to the footage going viral, Risper had made a direct and deeply emotional appeal, urging Kenyans not to allow her to suffer and die at such a young age.
The combination of her words and the image of an abandoned fundraiser proved impossible to ignore. Within hours, contributions flooded in from across the country.
Risper's Treatment Deficit
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, philanthropist Ndung'u Nyoro confirmed that Kenyans had donated more than KSh 1.2 million in just a few hours after Risper's story spread online.
The surge in support has pushed Risper's total significantly closer to what she needs. According to Nyoro, her fundraising now stands at KSh 2.2 million.
"She needed KSh 2.6 million. She is currently at KSh 2.2 million," Nyoro explained.
With KSh 500,000 still to go, the teenager who once faced the prospect of an empty room now finds herself within reach of the full amount required for her treatment.
How to Contribute for Risper
What unfolded in a matter of hours represents a dramatic shift in fortune for Risper and her mother, who had watched their initial efforts come to nothing.
The same Kenyans who were absent from that hall responded in their thousands once the story reached them through their screens, transforming a moment of despair into one of collective purpose.
Contributions can be made to Paybill: 4817183, Account: Risper, or sent through 0728730091 and 0722747745, registered to Mercy Kimotho.
Risper's case is a reminder that behind every fundraising effort is a person waiting and hoping, and that sometimes, it takes a single viral moment for the country to find them.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.