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Help our hero Stuart to be remembered

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Stuart  is 42, lives in Enfield with his therapy cat Mittens.   Stuarts Dr says he is very very poorly and that he needs to be cared for at home now.  Stuart doesn't have to go back into hospital anymore, the Drs and Nurses will come to see him at home now. 

Stuart is feeling more tired and needs more oxygen every day because of all the health problems he has. 

Stuart is very positive about life  and is trying his hardest to do all the things that that the Drs and Nurses ask him to but he is feeling too scared to go to sleep in the night. 

Stuart is a hero,  he has had a lot of his own issues and difficulties to overcome but he has dedicated his life to serving others through his service to volunteering.   He won an award for his dedication to volunteering in the community and was invited to the Queens Garden Party and has raised a lot of money over the years  for the "Make a Wish" foundation.   

Stuart has helped a lot of people and now he also needs some help.

As well as a lot of physical health issues, Stuart has a learning disability and a rare Condition called Sotos Syndrome which causes growth spurts in childhood so he is over 7ft tall and carries a lot of  weight.   Arrangements for Stuart are much  more expensive because he is taller and bigger than a lot of people and so needs special arrangements.    We have been told arrangements would  cost a minimum of £9000, Stuart is worrying a lot about this. 

We are helping him to raise some money  so Stuart can have the arrangements he needs and not worry about this, so he can  focus on enjoying his life with friends and family around him and with his best friend in the world his therapy cat Mittens.  

Stuart says if there is any money left he would like a bench in his name for people to sit and enjoy his favorite drink, Cappuccino, because we all need to take a break!  He especially likes the ones that go around a tree but says any bench is nice.   And if there' s even more money left over he would like to donate to one of his favorite charities to help other people and lastly, make sure his therapy cat Mittens has some toys and food because she has been a very loyal friend and he loves her very much. 

Please can you help Stuart, he has given a lot to his community in spite of the challenges he has himself had to deal with over the years. 

Stuart said he will look at his Go Fund Me page every day  to see how many people are helping him and when I told him today he was already raising money he was so excited that everyone is  being so kind and generous.

There is a short break in this text because due to the amazing success of Stuarts campaign,  I have been asked to share some more information with you as below: 




Who has set up this page & what is my relationship to Stuart  -

This page has been set up with the full support of Stuarts family and friends all of whom have shared and kindly donated to this page and are overwhelmed by the support Stuart is receiving.   My name is  Sandra, I am in Stuarts Circle of Support.  I have not given the name of the company I work for because this is something I am doing  in addition to my usual work responsibilities but with my employers and my colleagues full knowledge and support.  You might see me in some of his videos and photos we will post on his updates. This means I am one of the people who helps to make sure he is looked after, alongside his carers, Physiotherapist, Community Nurses, Respiratory Nurse,  District Nurse, Palliative Care Nurse, family and friends.  I see Stuart most days and his family and friends are speaking  to me daily to find out how Stuart is doing, share ideas on things that we can all do to make him more happy and comfortable,  and so that we can all work together to support him.   We have some laughs and share some tears but most importantly we are all working together to make Stuarts life happy and for him to be remembered for his achievements and contribution to the lives of others .   With encouragement from his friends, as a trusted member of Stuarts Circle of Support, I set up and am administering this page, posting the updates, sharing information about Stuart and our campaign and will administer the funds raised in consultation with Stuarts family and friends when the time comes.   Balances, payments and receipts will all be  made available regularly for his family and immediate circle of support to inspect.   I have a legal duty in my professional role to safeguard Stuart from any risk of harm including risk of exploitation or financial abuse.   Funds withdrawn  may be paid direct to suppliers or if agreed in advance, direct to a family member with the appropriate receipt for  financial recording to ensure his funds are being used for the purpose intended.  Checks and balances and transparent accountability is in place to ensure funds raised on behalf of Stuart are administered and distributed appropriately.   My involvement in this campaign is voluntary and no funding or expenses are required from Stuart, money raised from his Go Fund Me campaign,  or from his family or friends  for me to do so.    

Managing this  page does take time and I personally send individual thank you's on behalf of Stuart for every donation made.  I am happy to give time for this and to enable his family and friends to focus on being with Stuart and supporting each other through this difficult time. 

How exactly will the money raised be spent -   

We have touched on the need for help with his "arrangements and expenses" when the time comes and so when we all pass there are things that are need to be paid for so that "we can go to heaven".   Stuart is religious and believes in God and so wants to have a church service with his favorite songs as well.   The money raised will also help to cover any expenses in relation to making arrangements for his belongings.   If there is money left over he would like  to have a bench dedicated to him for his work colleagues and other people to sit on and have a rest.    He does talk about 2 benches, one for his nan as well who he loved very much, but we (his circle of support) think maybe he will raise enough for one bench with a plaque for  Stuart and his nan perhaps, we will see how things are when the time comes but any decision on this will fully involve his parents and his  closest friends .   If after paying his expenses and for his remembrance bench there is enough left over,  Stuarts funds will be divided between the charities of his choice, he is still making a list of the charities he wants to support but we imagine he would like to support previous charities he has donated to, that said, when the time is right and Stuart is ready we will be specific about who would benefit and update the page possibly with a video from Stuart. 

Why is some of the language used not as direct as with other GFO campaigns- 

Stuart , and some of his friends,  have  a learning  disability.  The language and terminology used on this page is written in a way that Stuart is able to understand but not so that it can cause  additional distress as this is an especially difficult time for him as he comes to terms with all the changes.  When given such devastating news we would all go through a period of adjustment, a cycle of grief  that includes despair and denial, and he is going through  exactly the same.  He is comfortable and at peace with the terms  "arrangements" and  "expenses".  I hope to have written this  page so that you can understand what Stuart is needing help with but if you are unsure or require more clarity please do contact me and I am happy to provide a more direct explanation.
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Donations 

  • Joy Cowley-smith smith
    • £20 
    • 3 yrs
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Organizer

Sandra Pearce
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