I first met this young man, now aged 22, last October when I had a wheelchair that had been funded by someone to donate to a worthy person in Sri Lanka. He had lost both legs on the railway track.

 

The first time I went to the house he was not there but I was struck by how awful the living conditions were.

He has a 20 year old brother, 24 year old sister, and mother and father all living with him. World Vision had seen fit to build a very flash block built self contained shower and toilet

 

within the original poor condition house – I was astounded, to put it mildly – in fact by the time I was back in the hotel I was furious – and I had’nt even met him!

 

The following day laden with food, fresh fish and vegetables I and 2 friends waded through thigh high monsoon waters to reach his house – he was in.

All of us were immediately taken with this charismatic young man – and he could speak VERY little English. I asked his sister if he had just one wish what it would be –

‘new legs Madam’

she whispered – I discretely swallowed my tears – here was a young man the same age as my son Jack, who is fit and healthy, he is good looking, clearly has many friends and yet he is denied the normal life of someone his age.

He was playing football in September 2006 with some friends on the train track near to his house. As the train noise is part and parcel of everyday life they are not alarmed by its clatter as it roars past. That fateful day, the train had no carriages and the noise would have been reduced. The engine would also have been travelling faster than normal – he misjudged running across the track!

Rasika spent 3 months in hospital.

Before his accident he was a welder – now he has NO job. He was the only source of income for the house. His father is too old and both his sister and younger brother are studying. His older sister is married. His mother has a very menial job working in a Dr’s private house bringing in a very low salary.

 

           

The family are all very thin but Rasika is quite well built and I suspect the others give him the Lion’s share of the food. I wrote about him in my Newsletter and someone from America has given me 4,000 pounds to built them a new house – someone else has pledged the money for the land too.

 

MCC gave me 4 tickets to attend the Test Match and I took him and his friend Charmika on the 22nd December - the last day!

 

The boys had a great time.

In the hotel later that day I was telling the Dive Shop owner about our day and just mentioned it would be great if Rasika could meet one of the players. He said that his friend was a cousin of Lasith Malinga he told me he would see if he could arrange a meet.

2 days later Malinga came to The Coral Sands where I was staying - I arranged for the boys to be bought to the hotel in secret.

 

He stayed around an hour chatting to the boys and said that when I had built the house he would come to the house opening ceremony. Big occasion in Sri Lanka! He readily signed 2 bats, a hat and a Sri Lankan cricket shirt.

I told him that I intended to auction them to make as much as possible for the family and hopefully for some new legs.

I did some research and took him to the limb centre which was supposed to be the very best place. The Director told me “of course you know that all disabled people lie” this was in response to me asking why they were surprised when he was upset that the legs they fitted him with were uncomfortable and broke within a week.

 

He had spent 3 months having daily physio for 4 hours each time and then they expected him to cope with legs that did not bend unless one bent down and unlocked the knee, took a pace and then locked it again. THEN do the same with the other leg. It was like Mickey Mouse land. The physiological damage it must have caused will remain untold I am sure………………………………………………………………

BUT I want to try and get him new legs. I contacted my friend Roger Allsopp on my return and he promised to help me.

 

He has made contact with the Dorset Orthopaedic Clinic…………… www.dorset-ortho.co.uk

Basically I have to find 22,000 for the legs

Money for physio Accommodation x 2

Visas and passports x 2 as I will need to bring his friend with him for moral support if nothing else – he speaks a little English. 

Flights x 2

My guess is a round total of 28,000/30,000 thousand pounds !!

PLEASE HELP US TO ACHEIVE OUR AIM AND HELP TO GIVE RASIKA A BRIGHTER FUTURE.!