Kenyans show Compassion to Cancer Survivor
By John Gachuki, Lowell, Mass. July 21

KENYANS living in Lowell and other parts of greater Boston gathered on Sunday to raise money for one of their own, Lucy Gaiti, who is recovering from cancer.

Ushindi PCEA church in Lowell was the venue for the much publicized fund raising gala. Lucy worships from the same church. Lucy has been confined to her apartment since early this year when she was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently underwent surgery. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, to try and kill cancer cells that could have remained in her body.

Lucy’s plight was exclusively revealed by Ajabu Africa in a recent article by this reporter following a visit to her residence at Dracut, Massachusetts.

At least $8,000 was raised by PCEA church members to help Lucy meet some of her medical and other expenses. Lucy has been out of work since falling sick. Other churches were also represented. Rev. Kimohu represented St. Stephens’s church while Rev. Jeremiah Githere attended for the Grace International church. There were also representatives from the Seventh Day Adventists.

Pastor Rev. Dr. Karimi Mumbui presided over the ceremony. He introduced Lucy with a brief synopsis of her medical history and the grim diagnosis of the disease. “She has had to endure the disruption of her normal life, work and other daily activities,” said Dr.Karimi

Pastor Kihiko Chege was the preacher of the day and his sermon was largely drawn from his personal experience and the recent tribulations he also went through.

The pastor has just had a successful kidney transplant. He likened himself to the biblical Job who went through great tribulations but did not curse God to die even at the insistence of his wife.He challenged and commended Lucy for being a woman of faith as she has demonstrated this during her trying days with cancer.

Rev. Kihiko urged everyone to live for God even when circumstances around us are bad.

Josephine Chege aka Mama Jack paid tribute to everyone for the supporting Lucy.
In a separate interview with Ajabu Africa, Mr Kanyonyi, the master of ceremony, attributed the success of the fund rising gala to the commitment and sacrifices of members of Ushindi church.

He singled out Pitty Nderitu who has been with Lucy “through thick and thin” and for having been the brain child of the harambee. The Ajabu magazine was praised for the role it is playing in dissemination news about Kenyans in Diaspora.
ENDS

This writer is the proprietor of Gachuki Tax Services, a professional tax preparation business.