MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Ray Fuller (Entertainment)

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Ray FullerIn April 2010, Ray Fuller played his first overseas show at the Vodacom Ampitheatre in Port Elizabeth South Africa. Fuller donated all proceeds to a local Port Elizabeth family whose daughter, Ashleigh Botha, was fighting FMD – a life threatening illness.

Ray Fuller’s talent as a singer and guitarist has allowed him to share the stage with many blues giants including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and so many more. In fact, Muddy Waters, after witnessing an opening act performance by Ray Fuller on slide guitar, exclaimed for all to hear “That was some hot slide boy! I could smell the smoke backstage!”

Ashley Botha suffers from the very rare Fibro Muscular Dysplasia. at the time Colin and Colleen Botha, her parents, wrote; “Our 16 year old daughter, Ashleigh, was diagnosed with Fibro Muscular Dysplasia, after becoming ill at the age of 12. FMD is a rare disease for which there is no cure or prevention to stop it spreading through her arteries. South African doctors do not have the experience or knowledge to treat this disease and if it is not managed correctly, there can be major complications. Ashleigh’s doctors have told us to take her to America for treatment.”

While in America Ray met Ashleigh and he took it on himself to raise funds to cover her medical expenses. Now he is in South Africa to do a concert from which all proceeds will go to help with Ashleigh’s medical bills.

The Bayside Blues Band was the opening act with Ray Fuller who appeared at the Boardwalk Amphitheatre on 28 and 29 April 2010.

Ashleigh still battles with the disease and her parents are still in a constant round of fund raising for her next trip to the USA for one more inevitable round of surgery.

There are two Facebook Groups for Ashleigh Botha: Help Heal Ashleigh and Ashleigh Botha Support and Prayer Group
Date: October 04, 2015 08:45

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.