Help Get Benny Home
Donation protected
On 15th September Derek (Benny) Bennet was admitted to hospital in Northern Cyprus. The problem originated with an extremely sore back, but unfortunately, within a matter of days, he was transferred to the intensive care unit as his health had deteriorated dramatically.
The doctors believe he had a serious infection which attacked his central nervous system. Although he is out of the ICU, there are still many unanswered questions and the exact infection has not been identified. As a result of this infection and of severe spinal damage, Benny has been left paralysed from the neck down.
As an ex serving member of the Paras (RAC), Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and lifelong fitness fanatic, his lack of movement is devastating.
The doctors in Cyprus have been brilliant and although they have done everything they can, the language barrier and the absence of family and friends, means it is essential that we get Benny back home to the UK. Once home, he will need an operation on his back to repair multiple collapsed and splintered discs and will have to start an intense physio journey.
As you can imagine we are desperate to get him home but the only way to do this is with a medical flight. His current medical bills have already had a tremendous impact on his life savings and a medical flight home will cost in excess of £29k.
We have had conversations with SSAFA, which is an armed forces charity, to see if they can help with these costs, but we also need to ask family and friends if they could please help raise some of the funds we need to get him home.
Any donations, no matter how small, will go a long way to help us make this happen and would be greatly appreciated.
If SSAFA are able to help us, any additional funds raised will help other armed forces personnel who are in need.
This content is exclusively managed by Caters News. To license or use in a commercial player please contact [email redacted] or call +44 [phone redacted] / [phone redacted]
The doctors believe he had a serious infection which attacked his central nervous system. Although he is out of the ICU, there are still many unanswered questions and the exact infection has not been identified. As a result of this infection and of severe spinal damage, Benny has been left paralysed from the neck down.
As an ex serving member of the Paras (RAC), Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and lifelong fitness fanatic, his lack of movement is devastating.
The doctors in Cyprus have been brilliant and although they have done everything they can, the language barrier and the absence of family and friends, means it is essential that we get Benny back home to the UK. Once home, he will need an operation on his back to repair multiple collapsed and splintered discs and will have to start an intense physio journey.
As you can imagine we are desperate to get him home but the only way to do this is with a medical flight. His current medical bills have already had a tremendous impact on his life savings and a medical flight home will cost in excess of £29k.
We have had conversations with SSAFA, which is an armed forces charity, to see if they can help with these costs, but we also need to ask family and friends if they could please help raise some of the funds we need to get him home.
Any donations, no matter how small, will go a long way to help us make this happen and would be greatly appreciated.
If SSAFA are able to help us, any additional funds raised will help other armed forces personnel who are in need.
This content is exclusively managed by Caters News. To license or use in a commercial player please contact [email redacted] or call +44 [phone redacted] / [phone redacted]
Organizer and beneficiary
Victoria Guthrie
Organizer
Derek Bennett
Beneficiary