Ehsan is my cousin brother who lives in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Ehsan has been suffering with Thalassaemia since birth, requiring constant blood transfusions and treatment throughout his life, every month, sometimes even every other week. There come days where due to the the poverty in his village and family, he is unable to find blood or even pay for treatment. There are good days for him, whereby his father is able to get help/donations or where his father manages to make a few hundred rupees a day (which is around £5-£6 a day) from his small hardware store. Money is never constant for him, and not enough to cover costs, as he is also running around finding blood for his son to survive on, for his food and for his wellbeing. There are times where there is a shortage of blood donors - and even those who do give, pose a threat to his well being, as many are not checked for major diseases or illnesses that are carried via their blood. Everyday is filled with anxiety for them, with fear it may be his last. Not only because of the known risks that come with thalassaemia, but Ehsan lost his elder brother due to the same illness, who was only 8 years old at the time he passed. Loss has become part of this family, but they live on with hope, that he has more years than his brother did in their lives. There come days when he is too weak to play with other kids his age due to his body not making enough blood for him, and his height and growth is a lot less progressive, in comparison with other kids his age. He isn’t able to study, as at this moment in time, his dream is to live, to be healthy. Most of Ehsan’s childhood has been spent in hospitals, or clinics - knowing more about the process in which they give him blood, where most children his age would know more about what they want to be when they’re older. Having good health, a concept some, including myself take for granted. We sincerely ask for anything you can give to help him survive another day, through this platform, we hope we can reach a target to help him with finding better treatment, and better facilities to aid him with living out his life the best he can.

Thank you.