To help raise support for Mark and his young family

I have set up this campaign in aid of my older brother Mark aged 41. Mark is a father to two young boys Conner aged 8 and Luke who turned 4 today. Mark is the sole supporter to his young family as his wife Cezanne had to give up work after their youngest son Luke was diagnosed with a rare epilepsy condition just months after he was born leaving him developmentally delayed with low tone meaning he can't crawl, stand, walk or talk and needs around the clock care. The last four years have been emotionally and financially straining on the family. This has been made even harder by the fact that Mark works abroad. He contracts for a mining company in Kuwait and only gets home every third month.

Mark returned home to South Africa in January on his month off and had complained about back pain. He saw numerous doctors and also a couple of chiropractors which as a result of treatment ended up cracking a rib. He then had to return back to work but slowly started losing sensation to some areas of his body and losing the ability to feel hot or cold. He had to soldier on as no work means no pay.

The day before yesterday I had a call from his friend/work colleague that Mark collapsed at work. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. The hospital ran numerous tests, and diagnosed from the CT scan that Mark has numerous fractures in his spine and part of Marks vertebrae has disintegrated. He has just undergone a bone marrow op to get more accurate results and a further a MRI scan has been scheduled.

Today the dreaded news came to confirm that Mark has multiple Myeloma which is basically a bone marrow cancer that affects the ribs, spine, pelvis and skull. He will need to start treatment immediately, but will need to be flown back to South Africa to do this.

The news is devastating to the family who already have so much on their plate. This will also mean that Mark will be unable to work leaving him and his family in a dangerous financial situation.

Feeling helpless as I can't be there for either my brother as he lies helpless in a hospital abroad in Kuwait with no family around him or my Sister-In-Law who is currently in Cape Town trying to keep it together with her already challenged day to day life.

I'd like to give my brother the ability to recoup and take time to recover whilst treatment starts either in Kuwait or back home in South Africa. I am therefore asking friend, family and anyone else to help raise funds for Mark and his family to ease the financial burden and also help Mark get the specialists care that is needed.

Please help Mark. Your contribution will take some stress away so that Mark can focus on getting better and beating this dreadful disease that is attacking his body.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any what ever support you are able to offer.