Stuart’s battled life-threatening illnesses to raise cash for charity

But for Maryport man Stuart McDougall, 46, it just strengthened his determination to do something for others which eventually led to the creation of a charity that has raised well over £100,000 to help people both in the town and further away.

Stuart lived in Maryport all his life until his marriage to Nichola about 18 months ago, when he moved to Workington.

The couple have a daughter Rosie who is nearly five months old.

Stuart also has a 14-year-old daughter Charlotte and Nichola has an 11-year-old son Matthew.

Stuart visited Tanzania in 2006 to carry out some volunteering work.

He says: “I was at a stage when I was not enjoying life. I was stagnating and decided it would be good to get away from myself and do something more worthwhile.”

He spent three months with a Masai tribe on an agricultural programme after the Government granted the Masai, traditional nomads, their own land.

He made three trips to Tanzania and, despite some horrific problems, he said he loved the place.

He says: “I could easily have gone to live there but that would have meant leaving Charlotte. She was the reason I stayed here.”

The most horrific problem Stuart suffered was malaria.

He says: “The first time was horrendous. I spent five days slipping in and out of consciousness. The hospital was about four or five hours away on a rough track. It was really only a clinic but when they realised I had malaria they put me in a bed.

“At five o’clock everyone went home. They left me with a Masai guy called Isaya. We became friends. He was one of a group of Masai warriors to come to the UK to take part in the London Marathon to raise money for a well in their village. He now lives in Chicago.”

Despite everything, the treatment was good and cost £60.

“I commented on the care and was told anyone who has the money would get that care. I realised that there would be many who could not afford that even though it was so cheap. Basically those with no money went off to die.”

“I got blood poisoning on that trip as well.

“On my second trip I got malaria again and Giardia twice. That’s a parasite from dirty water. It was a case of third time lucky on the next trip!”

His exotic travelling days behind him, Stuart still felt the need to do something more for the people he had met.

An electrician by trade, he devoted a lot of his spare time to setting up a charity, Asante Sana, which means “thank you very much” in Swahili.

The intention was to raise money and awareness for projects that Stuart himself identified.

He says: “We did water projects, education, bought irrigation systems and more.”

Eventually this extended as Stuart started to recognise needs within his own community.

He opened a charity shop on Senhouse Street nearly four years ago.

With more and more demands from the charity he started his own PAT testing company.

He says: “That kind of paid my bills while I was doing the charity stuff.”

The name Asante Sana raised a lot of questions and eventually Stuart decided to change the charity to a more English name.

He says: “We came up with Owl Blue for no other reason than that it sounded nice. We just wanted something short, random and a bit quirky and it is working out well.”

Owl Blue is now concentrating on local and national projects.

Stuart says: “That is where we see a need we can fill.

“We haven’t given up on overseas, though. If we identify a project we will do it. I keep in touch with people in Tanzania constantly.”

Over the past couple of years Stuart and his charity have become particularly well-known for the work they are doing with autism.

They have held workshops and seminars attracting leading specialists on the subject.

He adds: “We work with individual families, too. We have turned bedrooms into sensory rooms, provided learning toys, travelling expenses and even wigs – done whatever was required.

“We have worked with families from over Cumbria and even down to Manchester and Bury. As people get to hear about us we get the requests and try to help wherever we can. Sometimes this is practical help sometimes it is advice and support.

“We work with sick children and their families supplying what they need – whether it is special equipment or the chance to get away for a holiday break.

“Just recently, for instance, we sent a family for a four-day break which included a visit to Cadbury’s World and Drayton Manor and another child to Ireland for treatment.

“We have helped the families of children with all sorts of conditions including brain tumours, cancer, meningitis and more.”

Stuart was also a leading campaigner for the meningitis B campaign and still has a meningitis awareness post campaign running.

The shop is a major source of income for the charity but Stuart also runs various events such as the Reg Goodwin Memorial golf tournament, family fun days, toddler treks, and more.

Nichola is the only paid staff member. She does the administration and events organising.

Stuart, who concentrates on events, the shop and identifying projects, takes nothing.

He says: “There are three directors – me, Phil Hoyles and Rachael Chebbi. They are also volunteers.”

The charity is continuing to grow.

Stuart adds: “We are creating a conference room out of part of the upstairs of our shop. We will be able to use that for seminars and workshops.”

Stuart still feels the affects of the malaria.

He says: “In summer I will suddenly start shaking.”

He was near to death at times but from that near death experience has been born a venture that has helped too many people to count.

For more details about Owl Blue visit www.owl blue.org or email info@owlblue.org