Cameron And His Roses

To all the wonderful people that have shown love and support for Cameron. I never would’ve thought that my post to simply tell Cameron’s story and get people down to buy a Big Issue from him would lead to this. It has been so overwhelming. Initially I was trying to respond and like everyone’s comments until they started flooding in and I was unable to keep up. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you.

There have been so many comments from lovely people wanting to donate. I have been trying to ignore them as Cameron’s story was never intended to gather donations, nor was Cameron expecting such. With so many people wanting to help I’ve found it hard to ignore.

I followed up with Cameron post Valentine’s Day and again today. He is in high spirits and told me this has been the best thing that has ever happened to him. So many people have continued to go see him, say hello and buy a Big Issue. It’s incredible! I alerted him to the overwhelming response from thousands of people worldwide and said I would print out each and every beautiful comment for him to read. I also informed him on the response of people wanting to donate. He said “No, no, no.” I said “Mate, these people genuinely want to help you, what can we buy you?” It was here I learnt more of Cameron’s story.

Cameron told me he suffers from Sleep Apnea. A sleeping disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. He said he stops breathing 30 times a night. He has hired machines in the past to assist his breathing but was unable to continue hiring due to the cost. When I asked what can we buy him, he reluctantly said a Sleep Apnea Machine, acknowledging that they were very expensive. He also told me that his condition can be reduced by losing weight which he is trying to do. He receives an Invega injection each month to control his schizophrenia but unfortunately one of the side effects is weight gain.

It is from this knowledge that I have now decided to setup a Go Fund Me campaign to buy him a machine. I have since rang a company who sell and distribute Sleep Apnea Machines to get an idea of costs as I need to set a target for the campaign. The most expensive machine, as there are a few different models for different conditions, is around $2,500. The customer service representative informed me that Cameron needs a prescription from the doctor for a machine and I should ask Cameron if he’s eligible. I called Cameron back and he told me that he does qualify for a machine.

So here it is, a Go Fund Me Campaign for our beautiful friend Cameron. I’ve got the ball rolling with a $100 donation. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your love and support.

Lance