Photo Credit: Archbishop John Sentamu / Just Giving
The Assistant Bishop of Kampala, Hannington Mutebi, could receive life-saving chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant treatment, if a crowd-funding appeal by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is successful. Archbishop Sentamu, who leads the Church of England’s northern province, said that friends in Bishop Hannington’s cathedral and diocese in Uganda have already raised £35,000 GBP in just a week. Dr Sentamu is now urging the international community to fund the £155,000 shortfall of the £190,000 cost of treatment.
Bishop Hannington has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and needs urgent chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant treatment. No such treatment is available in east Africa and the Archbishop is organising treatment at King’s College Hospital in London, England.
“Can we in the UK and round the world raise the rest by Thursday 31 January?”, Archbishop John said. “This means getting as many people as possible to give in this very short time. Every gift will make a difference. I ask you to join me in doing what we can to help.”
According to Uganda Radio Network, the 59-year-old bishop has commenced treatment at the hospital.
The Anglican Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, has asked supporters in the country to contribute to the cost of treatment through the Archbishop’s Emergency Fund.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also endorsed the appeal, tweeting: “please consider supporting Archbishop @JohnSentamu’s urgent fundraising effort, and hold Bishop Mutebi in your prayers.”
Dr Sentamu’s crowd-funding campaign is being hosted by the Just Giving online platform. Dr Sentamu says money raised would be sent directly to King’s College Hospital to pay the medical bill. Any unspent money will be sent to Cancer Research UK, a leading charity working to find treatments for cancer.