By Alex Mlanga
The Body Project Fitness Centre, in collaboration with Lab Enterprise, has organised a fundraising aerobics event on January 15 to raise K30 million for Fortune Milanzi, a student at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), who is suffering from Aplastic Anaemia.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, Body Project Lead Trainer, Chande Chidothe, said they were inspired to organise the event to help the student as a show of humanity.
“We were deeply moved by the student’s plight, having spent a year in hospital and absent from school. We thought we could organise an event where people can come and pay to participate in aerobics, with proceeds going towards the students’ treatment,” he said.
Chidothe said the donation will also be solicited from individuals and the corporate world to supplement funds raised during the event which will be deposited directly into the students’ parents’ account to ensure transparency.
The treatment, which costs K30million, can be obtained in either India or Malawi.
Chidothe said they are also working with social media influencer, Sammie Walusa, who is also raising funds and has already raised K9 million for the student’s treatment.
“We have raised K9 million so far, leaving a deficit of K21 million. We call upon individuals and the corporate world to support this initiative,” he said.
This event will not only support the student but also promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases such as blood pressure, hypertension, cancer and diabetes among others.
“You are not only assisting this student but you are also helping yourself by preventing these diseases,” Chidothe added.
Francis Milanzi, Fortune’s father, thanked Body Project Fitness and Lab Enterprises for their initiative, and hopes that his son recovers and continues his studies, as he is the only one who can support his family.
“I thank them a lot for their help in assisting my son. May God Almighty bless them. I was not expecting this help and I don’t know how to thank them,” he said.
Students from MUBAS have started contributing money to assist their colleague get treatment. They have separately managed to raise K5.5 million.