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Valerie Mpundu

Youth Interactive Writer

A friend in need is a friend indeed, goes the adage.

A 12-year-old boy, Simbarashe Pako with hearing and speech impairments, is seeking medical assistance to travel to Karinga Mission in Kenya.

He recently hogged the limelight after his friend aged 11, Declan Stager brought it to the nation’s attention that he was raising funds to assist Simbarashe undergo the operation.

Declan, a cyclist met Simba during the Covid-19 lockdown and the duo realised the community children isolated Simba a lot. He was touched.

It was during that time when the two formed a bond and figured out their way to communicate using their sign language which has fostered deeper relations between the two.

Simba is now at Jairosi Jiri as the farm school that he was attending did not have the capacity to provide the much-needed help for him to enhance his communication skills.

Simba needs to have more extensive tests, and with that in mind Declan has decided to cycle from Halfway House to Rusape, a 38km journey.

With this initiative Declan hopes to get some donations to fund the tests in further anticipation there will be a surplus to cater for Simba’s school fees.

“I am asking for any donations nothing is too small, so I can help my friend get the help he needs.”

“He is my friend and I want to help him by raising some money to help pay for his tests and school fees,” he said.

Declan’s mother supporting the initiative her son has taken has vowed to be transparent with funds raised and share everything with the public.

Declan Stager is cycling to raise funds for his friend Simbarashe Pako

“The response has been phenomenal and beyond what we imagined. Help has been coming in from different people.”

“Once the ride has been done and all donations are made we will produce transparent accounts of everything received and spent,” she said.

Sarah Loki, Simba’s mother, was moved by the gesture and brought to tears.

She said, “We are grateful to Declan for this initiative. It shows that they are good friends. As a family, we cannot afford the bills and are asking for help.”

The families hope such an initiative will inspire other youngsters to help their peers.

Declan’s biggest hope is that his friend gets all the help needed to be able to live a fuller less challenged life.

Below are the details for those who want to assist.

Declan says, “Get in touch with my mom on 0774 891 022.”