Fijian mother fulfils her son's dying wish

16th December 2014 12:00

"'Tabs’ was part of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion and had been enlisted in the British Army since 2000"

16th December 2014


"'Tabs’ was part of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion and had been enlisted in the British Army since 2000"

Recently we were delighted to receive a donation from the other side of the world in memory of brave British solider and former patient Lance Corporal Sevania Tabua, who sadly passed away whilst being treated at the Beatson.

 ‘Tabs’ was part of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion and had been enlisted in the British Army since 2000, being deployed all over the world in places such as Kosovo, Iraq and Kenya before he was diagnosed with cancer in 2012.

His fellow recce soldier, Filipe Tawayaga said: “He was devastated to be diagnosed with cancer, but throughout his many operations and endless bouts of Chemotherapy, his thoughts were only of getting fit enough to soldier again with his friends.”

Having been shot in Iraq, injured by an explosion in Afghanistan, he refused to give up and would always seek to be back in the thick of the action. His determination was never more evident in his fight against cancer, but sadly lost his battle with the disease on 27th December 2012.

His mother Riki, from Fiji, sent a cheque for an amazing £6,430 to Scotland which was presented in behalf of Major General James Cowan to our fundraiser Megan at Balhousie Castle. Rika donated part of her son’s compensation to the charity as it was his way of saying thank you for the wonderful care the Beatson gave to him as he battled his illness.

We would like to say a special thank you to Mrs Naomi Rika for sending this donation over to us and to Black Watch 3rd Battalion for presenting this generous amount. We are truly grateful and touched by this donation as it will continue to help us provide vital care, treatment and support to the thousands of patients and families who visit the Beatson each year.