BLESSING MUKUNDWA – her story. THE BLESSING FUND.

One of Compton Lodge’s popular and dedicated Night Carers, Blessing Mukundwa, is herself suddenly and tragically in need of our care and support.

We, relatives and friends of the residents at the Lodge, located close to Swiss Cottage in London, are leading a crowdfunding campaign to assist Blessing and her young family, left widowed and fatherless just three months ago.

Graham Chappell, Blessing’s husband, died in August 2019, having been diagnosed with cancer only a few weeks earlier. Like his wife, Graham was a professional Care Worker. Between them they worked around the clock, he during the day, she at night, to ensure their two young daughters were well looked after by both parents.

Both were so proud of their two daughters, Natalie who is 13 and Alyson, aged seven. Both girls have been devastated by the sudden death of their Dad. They say they miss him every hour of every day. Natalie aims to be a doctor and Alyson has hopes of becoming a veterinary surgeon.

Blessing, who returned to work very quickly after her husband’s sudden death, has been a Night Carer at Compton Lodge for three years. Previously she worked at a much larger Care Home in Banstead, Surrey. She says she moved primarily to offer more personal care to a smaller number of residents. ‘In a smaller home you get to know everybody personally’, she says. Watching Blessing at work you can see the value and importance of her personal and empathetic approach to looking after our friends and family.

Back at home in Zimbabwe, Blessing went to a Methodist school, where she sang in the choir. In 1996 she travelled to London and now lives in Balham, where Father Robert Tobin and the congregation of the local CofE church have given her and the girls solace and support since Graham’s death. ‘They have been so very kind’, says Blessing.

Times are now so tough for Blessing and her girls. Money is very tight indeed, with only one income and funeral expenses not yet paid for.

We want to help as much as we can. We intend to raise funds between all of us to help pay off the funeral debts and to give Blessing and the girls something to help them on their way over the coming months. Longer-term Blessing hopes to set up a Trust Fund for her daughters’ higher education.

Please help. Please dig deep. If we all contribute and encourage our loved ones and supporters to join us, we can between us relieve at least some of the financial pain and pressure for one of Compton Lodge’s highly-valued carers.

For any questions you can email fund@theblessingfund.org.uk

To keep this project totally independent of the work of Compton Lodge, we have set up these special contact points and bank account. Director of the Lodge, Rachel Musrati, has approved every aspect of the plan to help Blessing in this way.