Help to secure a good education for Mary's son
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The story of Mary Nabaggala – a Teesside University International Student and a Commonwealth Scholar 2019 – is a story of a strong woman who fought a good fight until she succumbed to stomach cancer on Saturday 14th December 2019 at the Teesside Hospice. Mary was born in a rural village in Uganda in 1979 growing up in a poor family surviving on subsistence farming. This hard life taught Mary to be resilient and against all odds Mary emerged as one of the women to reckon with in Uganda. Mary completed her education obtaining a first class Hons Bachelor’s degree at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi and she was retained there to lecture.
A very intelligent and talented lecturer, Mary inspired thousands of students who looked at her as a role model. She had the opportunity to teach in a number of Universities in Uganda and she amassed a wealth of experience which together with her strong academic background won her a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship funded by both Teesside University and the UK Department for International Development (DfID) through the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.
Zealous to acquire knowledge and skills to enable her become one of the woman leaders in Uganda, a country where male domination in leadership positions still thrives, Mary enrolled on the Master of Public Health (MPH) at Teesside University in September 2019. Just when she was preparing to undertake her course, she was hit with worrisome news having been diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer - the aggressive type which began to spread to all body organs viciously. Mary’s health would soon begin to deteriote rapidly and despite the great effort from James Cook Hospital experts, the great support from Teesside University, the great love and kindness from the friends of Mary she continued to deteriorate. Shortly after, Mary was admitted to the Teesside Hospice for palliative care and on Saturday 14th December 2019, Mary succumbed and passed away quietly in her sleep.
Mary leaves behind an 11 year old son who lives in Uganda. Mary’s biggest worry was always about the future of her son and whether he would be able to get a good education and therefore become a responsible man in society. Mary’s husband got paralysed over 10 years ago having suffered a stroke, he is bedridden and Mary has been working so hard as the sole bread winner in their household. Mary has been paying her son’s school fees and looking after him and the sick husband. Her mother died many years ago from Stomach Cancer and her ageing father is on his death bed battling cancer of the prostate.
Mary’s son now faces a grim future with a high possibility of dropping out of school in a country where education is almost the only avenue to a decent life in the future. Friends of Mary – as we have termed this fundraising task force would like to show Mary that we will stand with her and her son to ensure that he gets quality education up until he finishes his first degree. As you read this, please know that we rely on your generosity to touch his life and give him the quality education her mother Mary always desired to give him.
Quick calculations indicate that he would require £1000 per year to pay his fees in a good school for the 6 years of secondary education. He would require approximately £2000 per year for the 3 years of University education. In total our target is to fundraise £12000 to go towards fees for Mary's son through his secondary and university education. We have liaised with a charitable organisation in Uganda – Humane Africa Mission (HAM) who have agreed to join this initiative and will keep safe custody of the raised funds and ensure remittance to the school/university as he progresses through his education.
Mary will always be remembered as a very hard working, committed and self-motivated woman who touched hearts of many. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Thank you very much in advance for your generosity, we very highly welcome any support in promoting this drive through your networks.
Friends of Mary initiative
A very intelligent and talented lecturer, Mary inspired thousands of students who looked at her as a role model. She had the opportunity to teach in a number of Universities in Uganda and she amassed a wealth of experience which together with her strong academic background won her a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship funded by both Teesside University and the UK Department for International Development (DfID) through the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.
Zealous to acquire knowledge and skills to enable her become one of the woman leaders in Uganda, a country where male domination in leadership positions still thrives, Mary enrolled on the Master of Public Health (MPH) at Teesside University in September 2019. Just when she was preparing to undertake her course, she was hit with worrisome news having been diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer - the aggressive type which began to spread to all body organs viciously. Mary’s health would soon begin to deteriote rapidly and despite the great effort from James Cook Hospital experts, the great support from Teesside University, the great love and kindness from the friends of Mary she continued to deteriorate. Shortly after, Mary was admitted to the Teesside Hospice for palliative care and on Saturday 14th December 2019, Mary succumbed and passed away quietly in her sleep.
Mary leaves behind an 11 year old son who lives in Uganda. Mary’s biggest worry was always about the future of her son and whether he would be able to get a good education and therefore become a responsible man in society. Mary’s husband got paralysed over 10 years ago having suffered a stroke, he is bedridden and Mary has been working so hard as the sole bread winner in their household. Mary has been paying her son’s school fees and looking after him and the sick husband. Her mother died many years ago from Stomach Cancer and her ageing father is on his death bed battling cancer of the prostate.
Mary’s son now faces a grim future with a high possibility of dropping out of school in a country where education is almost the only avenue to a decent life in the future. Friends of Mary – as we have termed this fundraising task force would like to show Mary that we will stand with her and her son to ensure that he gets quality education up until he finishes his first degree. As you read this, please know that we rely on your generosity to touch his life and give him the quality education her mother Mary always desired to give him.
Quick calculations indicate that he would require £1000 per year to pay his fees in a good school for the 6 years of secondary education. He would require approximately £2000 per year for the 3 years of University education. In total our target is to fundraise £12000 to go towards fees for Mary's son through his secondary and university education. We have liaised with a charitable organisation in Uganda – Humane Africa Mission (HAM) who have agreed to join this initiative and will keep safe custody of the raised funds and ensure remittance to the school/university as he progresses through his education.
Mary will always be remembered as a very hard working, committed and self-motivated woman who touched hearts of many. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Thank you very much in advance for your generosity, we very highly welcome any support in promoting this drive through your networks.
Friends of Mary initiative
Fundraising team: Friends of Mary (4)
Nyanzi Lawrence
Organizer
England
Rebekah McNaughton
Team member
Rebecca Walker
Team member
Joanita Lubega
Team member
