Tri-in' for Brian 2
Donation protected
My name is Benjamin Langer and I'm a family doctor in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada, where I work mostly with indigenous people. On August 25th, 2018, I am going to be running my second triathlon in support of my friend Brian Kzito Njuki's schooling! This time it's going to be in Thunder Bay! Please consider supporting me as I try to raise some money to help a beautiful soul achieve his dreams. He has done very well in his first year at University in Kampala, and he needs our ongoing support.
I first met Brian in January of 2010, when I was in Tel Aviv working with Save A Child's Heart (SACH), an organization that brings children with heart problems from all over the world to Tel Aviv for surgeries they wouldn't be able to afford in their home country. What first drew me to Brian was his brilliant smile and his infectious positive attitude, all the more remarkable given his dire situation. A 17-year-old young man dying of heart failure from rheumatic heart disease, Brian's deep faith in himself and in the goodness of others, as well as a determination to live, had carried him from Uganda to Israel with the help of an NGO worker named Justin Silbaugh. According to Justin, when he first met Brian "His parents were unable to care for him, and the aunt that had been looking after him kicked him out of the house because his condition was worsening...he was desperate to live". SACH had allowed Brian the opportunity to pursue his dreams.
A newly working heart, however, is all SACH could provide, and Brian's dreams are as big as his smile. I remember distinctly Brian telling me his aspirations to go further in his schooling, while showing me a beautiful picture of the heart and circulatory system, drawn from memory. Being fortunate enough to have had an immense amount of support from my family to pursue my education, Brian's story strikes an especially personal chord for me. The journey since returning home has been long and hard. Brian is now 26 years old and lives in the Mukono district of Kampala, Uganda. He has now finished his first year of a business program at Kyambogo University in Kampala, but has a few more years to go. To do this he needs support. When I first asked him what he wanted to study, he told me that he wanted to study anything where he could "help people whose voices needed to be listened to."
After our first go round, it's become clear that our budget of $3,000 was a little short, as Brian's health needs are higher than average. This year we are aiming for $5,000, but I am going to match all donations with my own cash!
Thank you so much for considering making a donation to support Brian. If you aren't in a position to make a donation, consider spreading the word to friends and family. Every little bit helps.
Benjamin Langer and Brain Kizito Njuki
I first met Brian in January of 2010, when I was in Tel Aviv working with Save A Child's Heart (SACH), an organization that brings children with heart problems from all over the world to Tel Aviv for surgeries they wouldn't be able to afford in their home country. What first drew me to Brian was his brilliant smile and his infectious positive attitude, all the more remarkable given his dire situation. A 17-year-old young man dying of heart failure from rheumatic heart disease, Brian's deep faith in himself and in the goodness of others, as well as a determination to live, had carried him from Uganda to Israel with the help of an NGO worker named Justin Silbaugh. According to Justin, when he first met Brian "His parents were unable to care for him, and the aunt that had been looking after him kicked him out of the house because his condition was worsening...he was desperate to live". SACH had allowed Brian the opportunity to pursue his dreams.
A newly working heart, however, is all SACH could provide, and Brian's dreams are as big as his smile. I remember distinctly Brian telling me his aspirations to go further in his schooling, while showing me a beautiful picture of the heart and circulatory system, drawn from memory. Being fortunate enough to have had an immense amount of support from my family to pursue my education, Brian's story strikes an especially personal chord for me. The journey since returning home has been long and hard. Brian is now 26 years old and lives in the Mukono district of Kampala, Uganda. He has now finished his first year of a business program at Kyambogo University in Kampala, but has a few more years to go. To do this he needs support. When I first asked him what he wanted to study, he told me that he wanted to study anything where he could "help people whose voices needed to be listened to."
After our first go round, it's become clear that our budget of $3,000 was a little short, as Brian's health needs are higher than average. This year we are aiming for $5,000, but I am going to match all donations with my own cash!
Thank you so much for considering making a donation to support Brian. If you aren't in a position to make a donation, consider spreading the word to friends and family. Every little bit helps.
Benjamin Langer and Brain Kizito Njuki
Organizer
Bengo Jared
Organizer
Sioux Lookout, ON