AFTER using its crowdfunding platform to raise thousands of dollars for destitute social media comedian Osbourne “Peanut Dread” Ellis, realhelpinghands.com is seeking to do a similar deed for the abandoned hero and former Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Private Ferdinand Trench, who was cut from the army due to bouts of sickness.

In 2011, when Trench was just a lance corporal, he was conferred with a medal of honour for gallantry for saving the life of a man who had fallen down a precipice on the Junction main road in St Mary.

Now, 11 years later, his life is in need of saving. His career was cut short as he was deemed an unfit soldier due to multiple diagnoses of lupus and kidney disease.

Since the Jamaica Observer published his story on Sunday, the people behind realhelpinghands.com felt they could do something heroic to rescue Ferdinand.

“My intention is to get in touch with Ferdinand and put him up on the website to let a lot of people see his need so we can raise funds because clearly, he is in need of money right now,” Oliver Toth, the chief operating officer of realhelpinghands.com, told the Observer on Monday.

“I have a lot of employees who scour the papers every day and we reach out to people worldwide. Jamaica is one of our focal points because there is a lot of need here. Our system allows people to raise money for Jamaicans who will get the money instantly. He has served the country and the fact that JDF let him go in such a way makes him the perfect candidate for realhelpinghands.com,” Toth added.

Realhelpinghands.com has been in existence for the past two years and during that time has raised over US$200,000 (J$30.7 million) to assist the needy in Jamaica. People with varying needs and problems have benefited from the platform.

“We have been able to solve quite a number of people’s financial detriments. Some people ask for small amounts to meet their immediate need. It is not like they want the money to pay off a mortgage on a mansion. About two weeks ago, we had a girl who needed some college money. She couldn’t afford her college fund. Within 30 days we raised over US$4,000, which allowed her to continue her education.

“The impact is real. Campaigners are able to access funds donated to them without limitations. If they go over their intended amount, they get all of it. We don’t hold anything back and it is very transparent. Everybody can see where they are, how much has been raised. We help sick people, athletes and we build houses for the homeless. It has been very successful and that is why we are expanding it,” Toth told the Observer on Monday.

According to Toth, the platform has started to save the life of Peanut Dread.

“As the money trickles in every week, we are giving it to him. Suddenly, he will go from sitting in the dark to being able to feed himself and get medical attention. We are trying to raise US$20,000 and we are going to get it for him,” Toth said.

People interested in making impactful contributions to the lives of needy Jamaicans may contact Toth at 876-806-6549 or visit realhelpinghands.com.