Miss-Delectable
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Somerset's 'miracle man' helping deaf in Shirdi
A man from a village in Somerset who was given just six months to live due to a medical problem in 1997, has since lived each day with zest for over nine years and has raised money for an orphanage in Shirdi, Maharashtra.
Mervyn Todd, 68, from Nether Stowey in Somerset is now called the 'miracle man' for having defied death due to asbestos poisoning. In 1997, even the most optimistic doctors had given him no more than two years to live.
Undeterred by the medical advice, Todd, a grandfather, has since plunged himself into helping others and devoted his money and energy to helping orphans in Asia.
Over the years, he is reported to have raised nearly 40,000 pounds for such causes.
Todd has visited India several times since 1997. This week he handed over 1,500 pounds from his Books For Life project in Nether Stowey towards a new classroom for a school for deaf children in Shirdi.
Todd told the Bridgwater Mercury, a local newspaper: 'Since 1997 I have just felt that every day is precious. After I was diagnosed with asbestosis, I decided to throw myself into what I am doing. I was just determined to make the most of the six months that I had.
'Now the illness is benign. That just doesn't happen. I am called the 'miracle man' by the people there - and I think it is because of what I am doing.'
Todd's latest donation was presented to Father William D'Mello of charity group Montfort Brothers, an organisation which coordinates the building and running of many Indian schools and orphanages.
Father D'Mello said: 'For many years, we have seen deaf children totally sidelined - they have not been given an education and not been accepted in their families or their communities.
'We have been working for 50 years to support children in India. Mervyn has raised 40,000 pounds for us since 1997, and his support is very important.'
A man from a village in Somerset who was given just six months to live due to a medical problem in 1997, has since lived each day with zest for over nine years and has raised money for an orphanage in Shirdi, Maharashtra.
Mervyn Todd, 68, from Nether Stowey in Somerset is now called the 'miracle man' for having defied death due to asbestos poisoning. In 1997, even the most optimistic doctors had given him no more than two years to live.
Undeterred by the medical advice, Todd, a grandfather, has since plunged himself into helping others and devoted his money and energy to helping orphans in Asia.
Over the years, he is reported to have raised nearly 40,000 pounds for such causes.
Todd has visited India several times since 1997. This week he handed over 1,500 pounds from his Books For Life project in Nether Stowey towards a new classroom for a school for deaf children in Shirdi.
Todd told the Bridgwater Mercury, a local newspaper: 'Since 1997 I have just felt that every day is precious. After I was diagnosed with asbestosis, I decided to throw myself into what I am doing. I was just determined to make the most of the six months that I had.
'Now the illness is benign. That just doesn't happen. I am called the 'miracle man' by the people there - and I think it is because of what I am doing.'
Todd's latest donation was presented to Father William D'Mello of charity group Montfort Brothers, an organisation which coordinates the building and running of many Indian schools and orphanages.
Father D'Mello said: 'For many years, we have seen deaf children totally sidelined - they have not been given an education and not been accepted in their families or their communities.
'We have been working for 50 years to support children in India. Mervyn has raised 40,000 pounds for us since 1997, and his support is very important.'