Waterford Malayalee community rally to repatriate father who passed away on New Year's Eve
Alias John had come to Ireland to visit family and spend time with his grandchildren when he became unwell.
The Waterford Malaylee community have raised €11,005 to repatriate the father of a Malayalee man in Waterford for final rites.
The GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday by the Waterford Malayalee Association on behalf of one of their members, Mr Basil Raj.
According to the WMA, Mr Alias John had come to Ireland to visit family and spend time with his grandchildren when he became unwell.
He passed away on December 31, 2024, after 50 days in hospital.
Their goal was to raise €10,000, but the page was disabled after they exceeded that by over €1,000 in just two days.
After the fundraiser closed, the WMA wrote on social media: "On behalf of the Waterford Malayalee Association (WMA), we would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who supported Mr. Basil and his family during this incredibly difficult time.
"Your generosity, prayers, and compassion have been truly overwhelming and a testament to the power of our unity as a community.
"Thanks to your collective efforts, we successfully reached the target of €11,000 through the GoFundMe campaign. This amount, directly linked to Mr Basil’s account, will help him and his family cover the expenses for repatriating his late father’s body to India and performing the final rites. The funds can be withdrawn directly by Mr. Basil, ensuring immediate access for their urgent needs.
"We sincerely apologize for not mentioning individual names, but please know that every contribution, big or small, played a vital role in achieving this goal. The support from WMA members, religious organizations, sports clubs, cultural groups, and individuals from Waterford and across Ireland is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together as one."
