In 1969, 'Fred' first went to India and then Nepal where he met the legendary 'Eight Finger Eddie' who told him all about Goa. Since 1974 he's been an ever-present in Anjuna at parties, at the flea market where he used to do a tie-dye T-shirt stall and just being with all the other colourful characters who've frequented the place. For the last 30 years though life hasn't been so easy. Without complaint, 'Fred' has suffered from Parkinson's Disease (PD) which makes movement slow and simple tasks like walking to the toilet or cooking really difficult.

A good Zimmer frame would help him to walk without falling down and will cost £100+ / 120€. Recently he has fallen down three times, pulled his arm quite badly and cracked a rib which makes sleeping difficult. He can't really clean much, so funding a regular cleaner would be a big help and his medication costs £50 / 60€ per month plus there's paying for food for the rest of his life and rent. And then there is a new treatment he found out about yesterday from a neurosurgeon which involves planting electrodes in the brain which would massively help. The cost of that though £5000 / 5800€.

And now stuck in India because of Covid, he has no money to pay for a return flight to his daughter in the UK whose business working at UK festivals has been closed during this period.
 
So having met Fred recently, heard his many amazing life stories and seen first-hand how difficult his life is I (Nigel) made contact with Leah, his daughter and we decided to set up this GoFundMe page and ask you to contribute a little to help him with the rest of his life. Leah, based in England, will manage the funds from the UK to pay for Fred's care in India; his eventual flight home when it becomes more affordable; and care in England.