British dad who lost his daughter in car accident donates Sh4.3m for charity in Kenya
A father in the United Kingdom has made a generous donation of Sh 4.3 million (£30,000) to a charitable organization in Kenya that benefits children in honour of his daughter who died in a car accident.
In a statement, the man whose name is Wing Cdr Neil Hope, and whose daughter was known as Charlotte Hope, said the money will be transferred to that cause.
Charlotte, who was 19 years old at the time of her untimely demise, was killed in a car accident in April 2022 on the A53 at Astley, near Shrewsbury in England. In her honour, her father hosted a fundraising football match between RAF all-stars and an ex-professionals team in Market Drayton.
The event raised Sh 4.3 million which Neil promised would be donated to the charity, Restart Africa, for the benefit of needy Kenyan children to which Charlotte volunteered.
“She was a wonderful person. She was always doing things for other people. The volunteering and charity work she did was just absolutely fantastic,” Neil explained.
As a trained teacher, Charlotte was volunteering at the charity and at the time of the accident was planning to return to the country and work as a tutor. Her mother, Helen Hope, said the family hoped the money raised would benefit the children.
“It’s just amazing to see all the support we’ve had for this. It’s so beautiful and Charlotte wouldn’t believe this was all being done in her name, she would be amazed,” she said.
Restart Africa is affiliated with the Sanata Charitable Trust which has operations in the UK and another headquarters in Gilgil, Kenya. The purpose of the UK Trust is to raise funds for the development and running costs of the Restart Children’s Centre.
The center takes care of 100 children, just a few months old, who live in an orphanage. Founded in 2015 in Gilgil, Nakuru County, the organization provides food, shelter, and education to the children.
“Most of our children have suffered severe, often sexual abuse and deprivation, and all of them have significant emotional problems. It can take many months of love and care before they have the hand-to-mouth life they led on the street overcome, and be able to enjoy a more settled life at the Restart Center,” reads a description on the Charity’s site.