PHOTO CAPTION - Fatima (on the right), who received a prosthetic leg through Banjul Hospital's partnership with Legs4Africa
I sit in my shop. I laugh with people, I dance with people. But if I didn’t have a prosthetic leg I would still have people sat over me crying. I am so happy with my life”
On behalf of everyone at Legs4Africa, Alex Brooker and all our friends across Sub-Saharan Africa we want to say a ginormous thank you to everyone who donated to our first ever Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Appeal. We are still grinning from ear to ear, and we are still astounded by the amount you raised. Together, you donated a staggering £48,230 - this is enough to rescue 1,206 prosthetic legs from a life sitting among avocado stones, and get them out to people who need them in Africa.
Like Alieu, who you met during our appeal, Fatima also received a free prosthetic leg from Banjul Hospital in The Gambia, thanks to their partnership with Legs4Africa. Her leg has allowed her to continue working in her shop, and she has recently set up a community support group for female amputees. Their motto is "no stress".
It seems Fatima's main problem now is trying to get some peace and quiet, away from her excitable grandchildren...
“Whenever I take my leg off the kids start playing with it, they think it’s a toy. I tip it and find so many things stored in there, even coins. Sometimes I am in my room not wanting to be disturbed but the children are running around and coming in and out. When they do this I take my leg off and wave my stump at them and then they run away scared and I am left in peace. It always works”
Your kindness will help to get thousands more people like Fatima dancing, laughing and back on their feet. Thank you so very much.
Together, we really are getting Africa back on it's feet, one leg at a time.
You can find out more about the charity .