Welcome to Darlinda‘s Charity website

Darlinda‘s Charity for Renal Research was the vision of one special woman...

Rita Madhok - who was known professionally as Darlinda - was the astrologer/psychic known to millions of newspaper readers for her weekly column in the Sunday Mail, Scotland‘s biggest-selling newspaper.

Through the column, her broadcasting and personal appearances, Darlinda became a household name.

When she was hit by a series of health problems - and in particular renal failure - Rita decided to give something back to the hospital and the carers who looked after her through months of ill-health which included renal dialysis and a kidney transplant.

That hospital was Glasgow‘s Western Infirmary. The carers and medics were in the hospital‘s prestigious renal unit. For Rita, giving something back meant the launch of a new charity back in 1987 and since then the fundraising has never ceased.

Sadly Rita died in 1995 but through her husband Dr Rajan Madhok DL and a handful of friends and supporters the work of the charity continues today. Since 1987 £700,000 has been raised - an incredible total for a charity which relies on a small group of committee members supported by some very loyal and generous friends and associates.

Every year the charity committee organises a series of events aimed not only at raising vital funds but also to promote the work done both by the research teams and the medical staff at the Western.

Rita‘s vision was simple - she wanted to help fast-track the research work undertaken by experts searching for better ways of looking after renal patients and she also wanted to focus on the comfort of patients and give them a better experience.

Today Darlinda‘s Charity for Renal Research is the largest benefactor to the Western‘s Renal Unit - and committee members meet regularly with the hospital team to ensure the money raised is earmarked for the best research projects. Nursing staff also direct their requests for the "extras" which they know will make a renal patient‘s stay in hospital - either for dialysis or for longer treatment periods - more comfortable.

We hope this website gives you an insight into the work we do. We hope you will feel you can help the charity. We hope you will help us to continue Darlinda's dream...