Help give financial security to Jabbi's family

Hi, my name is Laura and I am fundraising to support our colleague Jabbi, who has recently been diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer.

Out of the blue, Jabbi collapsed whilst running to catch the bus. It was a hot day during July of this year and he doesn’t remember much else except seeing the blue lights of the ambulance and being taken to A&E. After a while, he felt ok so decided to leave. A few days later Jabbi had a call from the doctor asking him to go back to hospital so they could investigate further as they were concerned about his collapse. It was later found he had an ulcer and Jabbi was given medication.

The following week Jabbi was called back to the hospital to be told the devastating diagnosis that he had stomach cancer, and sadly the prognosis was that he only has a matter of weeks, or possibly months to live with treatment.

This news is absolutely devastating for Jabbi and his family; his wife Aja and his three beautiful daughters Fatima (aged 9), Zainab (aged 8) and Aisha (aged 2).

Here’s Jabbi’s Story:

Jabbi was born in The Gambia and first arrived in the UK as a student 22 years ago. After getting married, and later divorced, he went back home to The Gambia where he married Aja.

Jabbi then came back to the UK with a plan to work hard and take his money back home to support his family. Jabbi secured work at Window Ware where he has been an integral part of the warehouse team for the past eight years.

When his eldest daughter Fatima was born in The Gambia, it was discovered she had limb length discrepancy which meant she had one leg longer than the other. Doctors there said there was nothing they could do.  Jabbi wanted to try and help her, so paid for doctors in neighbouring Senegal to take a look, and they said the same thing; that nothing could be done.

Back in the UK, Jabbi asked a doctor if his daughter’s condition was treatable here and he was told if he bought her over they would be able to help. Being apart from his family was never easy, so three years ago Jabbi was reunited with his wife and eldest two daughters when they came to join him in Bedford. The family settled into life in Bedford where Fatima has been undergoing treatment which is still ongoing. Two years ago little Aisha was born, and the family was complete.

Now they are faced with unimaginable pain and heartbreak.

Jabbi is lost for words and quite overwhelmed that his friends and colleagues want to support him, Aja, Fatima, Zainab and Aisha. Our aim is to provide the family with the financial security Jabbi has been working so hard to provide for them, so that they can enjoy this precious time as a family.

Jabbi doesn't want to think too far ahead, but his wishes are to be buried back home in Africa and the thought of taking the financial burden away from Aja gives him much comfort.