By Leicester Mercury | Published 21 February, 2016
A dad with terminal cancer is launching a bid to raise £50,000 for LOROS before he dies.
Praj Bhogaita, 48, found out he had bowel cancer in December and is not expected to survive more than two years.
The father-of-four, who lives in the city centre, will celebrate his 49th birthday on July 14 and on that date he will launch LOROS 365 - a fundraising effort to hit the cash target before he turns 50 and donate the money to the Leicester hospice.
He said: "My brother-in-law owns The Music Cafe in Leicester's West End and we'll be having fundraising events every month with musicians and raffles and auctions.
"LOROS is supporting me and my 22-year-old son, Mahesh, works for Santander and they're going to match all the money raised pound for pound."
Praj said it had been hard coming to terms with the idea that his disease was going to kill him but that the fundraising project would help.
He said: "I've not been given long and the chemo will only prolong my life by five to 10 per cent. The cancer is too aggressive.
"My life has changed completely and everything is happening so quickly.
"The chemo already makes me very weak and I have carers who cook for me. And I still have the affect of the cancer itself to look forward to.
"But I've still got a positive attitude and I'm aware some people do survive longer that expected and others make miracle recoveries.
"I suppose it's the circle of life - everyone has to pass.
"I just hope I can do this and leave something good behind."
Praj was featured in the Mercury earlier this month because his former girlfriend, Michelle Balmer, made an appeal for donations to help her take a week-long holiday with Praj and their six-year-old son, Boston.
Michelle, 45, of Mowmacre Hill, Leicester, said the family had never been on holiday together and wanted to have a week away at the Sherwood Forest Center Parcs.
Since the appeal was in the Mercury the total raised has shot up from £610 to £1,700.
Praj said: "Just from the article that was in the Mercury there's been an awful lot of generosity.
"You realise quickly that there are some amazing people in Leicestershire."
Details of Praj's Loros 365 fundraising will be revealed later this year.
To help Michelle by donating, visit: www.gofundme.com/83jkuce4
