My daughter Africa died at the age of 24 while she while she was studying social integration, because she believed people with disabilities should be included into society not excluded.
From a very early age Africa showed this amazing spirit of love and caring throughout her short life. I blamed the Tellie Tubbies as she hugged everyone whether they liked it or not!
School turned out to be a massive influence on her life and although academically she was not the best, although I am sure she could if she put her mind to it, but what she did do is believe in the schools ethos of helping people less fortunate.
She constantly worried about others and tried to help anyone in whatever way she could, but when you combine this with her smile affection, she was able to win over so many. Which is why there were so many people at her funeral and died on the 19th July 2021
During her studies and work experience, she found her vocation which was to help children and adults with learning difficulties become integrated into work, she did this with a passion only to find she was struck down with a tumor in her spine, which paralyzed her from the chest down, but she believed she would walk again and this was just a stage of learning, as now she was in a wheelchair like some of her students.
Little did we know that 2 years later the cancer had spread to her brain and within a month she lost her fight.
Obviously for me the loss is huge and the grief is something that is hard to deal with, but knowing Africa's passion for doing something for people with learning difficulties has given me the drive to carry on her dream.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to tell her this in the last few weeks of her life, specifically to give 10% of our profits to charities that reflected her beliefs.
So here we are Africa, how this story unfolds I have no idea but Mencap, have many of the ideas you believed in so this is my way to remember you.
RIP Africa and one day I will see you on the other side and I hope in the meantime I can continue you dream.
