A GoFundMe campaign to help a Letterkenny-based nurse repatriate her mother home to Zimbabwe has surpassed its goal, thanks to the generosity of both friends and strangers.
Hospital nurse Valerie Munashe Makuwe, a native of Zimbabwe, sadly lost her mum Mavis Clinic Manyonga just one day after welcoming her to Ireland for the Christmas holidays.
Valerie and Mavis hadn’t seen each other since February, and joy turned suddenly to heartbreak when Mavis suffered a cardiac arrest within 24 hours of her arrival in Donegal.
Valerie, devastated, was then faced with the high costs of transporting her beloved mum’s remains home for burial in Zimbabwe, where Mavis’s husband and three other children live.
A GoFundMe campaign was started by a close friend to assist with the repatriation costs. The fundraiser received a rush of support and within a week raised €11,849, thanks to 540 kind-hearted donors.
Valerie’s friend Faith Zinyemba wrote a message of gratitude to all donors, thanking them for surpassing the goal and said: “The generous donations from over 540 individuals have ensured that Mavis’s final journey home to Zimbabwe will be a dignified one, allowing her to be laid to rest with the love and respect she deserves. We are deeply touched by the outpouring of empathy and support from everyone who has contributed to this cause.
“Valerie, on behalf of herself and her family, expresses her heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who have donated, shared, and spread the word about this fundraiser. Your kindness and generosity have brought immense solace and comfort during this challenging time.With the funds raised, we will now proceed with Mavis’s repatriation, ensuring that she receives the respectful and loving farewell she deserves. We will also cover the associated funeral expenses in Zimbabwe, ensuring that Mavis’s memory is honored properly.”
Faith, on behalf of the family, said: “Your support has shown Valerie and her family that they are not alone in their grief, and that there is still so much love and compassion in the world.”
