Rafal Tabor was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour earlier this year. Doctors said that they could operate but it was unlikely that he would ever be able to walk or talk again. His only other hope of seeing his two young children grow up lay with him receiving proton therapy from a specialist clinic in Munich – at a cost of around £27,000,
However, despite receiving the therapy last summer thanks to the generosity of Islanders, Mr Tabor lost his battle with the disease in hospital in Poland with his wife, Monika, by his side.
He had returned to the country with his family after his diagnosis, having lived in Jersey for 11 years.
Following his death, friend Ewa Modzelewski, who started a Just Giving Page that collected £27,516 from 561 supporters, paid tribute to Mr Tabor.
‘I always knew Monika more than Rafal, but he was an amazing father and husband. I’m sure people who knew him closer would say the same thing. He was a good person.
‘We are all very saddened about his passing and he was in the hearts of many people here in Jersey.’
She added that his family and friends are all ‘devastated’.
‘His girls meant the world to him,’ she said. ‘He was very friendly and helpful towards others and he will be very missed around by all of us.’
Following its launch the appeal raised more than £16,000 in three days, almost £2,000 of which was raised at a car wash at MGarage in St Mary and at a carboot stall at Millbrook. Collection boxes were also placed around the Island, including at the Green Rooster pub in Minden Place.
Members of the Island’s Portuguese community also helped by translating the JEP story about the appeal into Portuguese and placing it around the Island to raise awareness.
