Empty seats: Teen fighting cancer devastated after invitees snub her fundraiser

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Risper, a 17-year-old Kenyan girl battling cancer, released an emotional video begging well-wishers not to let her die young

- The teenager urgently needs KSh 2.6 million to travel to India for specialised treatment she cannot access locally

- Her mother once organised a Harambee to raise funds, but it ended with only the two of them sitting in a room full of empty seats

A 17-year-old Kenyan girl fighting gastrointestinal stromal cancer has broken hearts across the country after two videos showing the depth of her family's desperation spread widely online.

Risper, whose surname has not been widely shared, needs KSh 2.6 million to travel to India for specialised treatment.

In an emotional appeal captured on video, she looked directly into the camera and begged Kenyans not to let her illness carry her to the grave before she had had any real chance to live.

The Harambee That No One Attended

Her words were raw and frightened. At an age when most teenagers are consumed by school, friendships, and plans for the future, Risper is instead asking strangers to help keep her alive.

After her initial video began circulating, a second recording emerged that deepened the sadness surrounding her story.

According to the footage shared online, a well-meaning suggestion had been made to Risper's mother: organise a Harambee and give friends, neighbours and well-wishers a chance to contribute towards the treatment costs.

The family followed through. Seats were arranged, and preparations were made for what they hoped would be a community rally around a young girl in desperate need.

When the day arrived, the room remained empty. Only Risper and her mother were present.

Mother Refusing to Give Up

The image of a sick teenager sitting beside her mother in a hall of unoccupied chairs has struck many Kenyans as one of the most painful details of a story already full of them.

A fundraiser that was supposed to bring hope instead underlined just how isolated the family's struggle had become.

Throughout this ordeal, Risper's mother has continued pushing to find a way forward.

She has taken her daughter's story public, attempted to mobilise community support and refused to accept silence as an answer.

Yet the practical reality of raising KSh 2.6 million without institutional backing or a wide network of support has proven overwhelming.

For Risper, each attempt that falls short carries its own emotional weight. The failed Harambee was not merely a logistical setback; for a teenager already confronting the possibility of death, it represented one more door swinging shut.

Her plea, however, has continued gaining attention as the videos spread further. Risper is not asking for much, by her own framing. She is simply asking not to die at 17.

Those wishing to support her treatment can reach out through 0722747745, registered under Mercy Kimotho.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.