I sponsored Dima when he came to the UK from Ukraine.   He moved into my home and became my friend.   I loved him as my son.  

On Saturday, 24 February, 2024, DIma, age 38, died. He has lived with me since his arrival in December 2022. His mother and brother in Ukraine have not seen him since he boarded a plane to leave his home and their only wish now is to say goodbye to him and bury him.
Dima was trying hard to learn English and he worked at the Sharksfin Restaurant in Mevagissey (which he loved so much!), right around the corner from the house we have shared since his arrival. He was quiet and a bit shy, but many locals in Mevagissey remember him as the man who was always smiling!
Rain or shine, Dima spent his days walking the coastal paths and visiting nearby beaches. He worked as many evenings as he could, and even when returning home exhausted from his kitchen work, he would be smiling and, when I asked him how his day was, would give me a huge smile, a thumbs up, and a resounding "GOOD!" in response.

Dima arrived in Mevagissey in December 2022 and has been living here since.   Always smiling, always happy, a hard worker and one who rarely spent a day indoors when he could be out enjoying the sun, rain, and beautiful views of the sea, Dima LOVED Mevagissey.   His face lit up with his beautiful smile so much of the time. At the request of his family, his body will be returned home to Ukraine so his mother can bury him. 

I am currently raising funds to return him to his mother so she can bury him near to her.   He was much loved here, and I will miss him so very much.