Make a difference for Riaan at Coffee Morning in Portstewart

Just under two years ago he was happy and in a good position for the time. He had a good job as a project manager with a construction company, looking after both manpower and materials, a wife and four children, aged 20 down to three, a house and an adequate income.

Then he suffered a minor stroke and was hospitalised. On the third day, four hours before his release from hospital, his company phoned him in hospital to tell him he had been let go - or re-trenched - as they call it in South Africa.

Since then he has been unable to find regular or substantial work and has lost his house and his children are scattered among his family around the country. He lives in a shack in a township.

His only source of income is to do odd jobs such as gardening. Rian wants to retrain as a HGV lorry driver. He has been given a clean bill of health but this training and the test cost money which he does not have.

Akbar Arman and Beth Cleland, from Castlerock, said: “We are holding a Coffee Morning to raise the funds to pay for this and later for others in the same difficulty. This money will be strictly controlled and will be repaid for re-use.”

The event will be at Star of the Sea Parish Hall, Portstewart, on Saturday, September 10 from 10am.

Admission will be by donation of £3 and will include tea, coffee, scones and tray-bakes. There will be stalls of bric-a-brac, books, cakes and home produce, art prints, jewellery, crafts, etc. Please support the event.

If you wish to help on the day or with gifts for sale please phone 02870849880 or 07960457789.