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The story of our founder...
Our founder was the late Rita Madhok - who was known professionally as Darlinda - was the astrologer/psychic known to millions of newspaper readers for her weekly column in the Suunday Mail, Scotland‘s biggest-selling newspaper.
Through the column, her broadcasting and personal appearances, Darlinda became a household name.
To those who knew her personally, Rita (pictured right) was a special person...a loyal friend, an enthusiastically positive lady and a woman driven by a desire to do well for others.
When she was hit by a series of health problems - and, in particular, the devastating 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.
Throughout her illness Rita kept a positive focus on the work of the charity, squeezing an extra pound from each and every person she came into contact with through her work.
She was tireless in her efforts - even when her illness dragged her down...though few would see any obvious signs from the ever-smiling and warm person.
Sadly Rita lost her battle against her illness and she died in 1995 but through her husband Dr Rajan Madhok DL and a handful of friends andsupporters the work of the charity continues today.
Rita‘s vision was simple and two-fold - 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.
Darlinda‘s Charity for Renal Research was the vision of one very special person whose legacy lives on today...
Dr Rajan Madhok‘s efforts for his late wife‘s charity were recognised by The Sunday Mail‘s Great Scots Awards 2008. Rajan (seen left in photo) was recognised in the charity category and received his award from category sponsors Kwik Fit‘s Bert Main (centre) and Dragon‘s Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne.
The ceremony was held at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow in September, 2008.
Rajan said: "I was completely surprised - having known nothing about the award at all. I sat there watching the awards host describing Rita and her work and I couldn‘t quite get my head around what was happening. Then the penny dropped!
"It‘s a fantastic award and I accepted in Rita‘s memory and on behalf of all the people who work so hard for the charity."
* OUR PATRON
The charity's patron from its earliest days until the end of 2008
was the former Lord Provost of Glasgow, the late Susan Baird, CBE.
Susan‘s death has robbed us of a fantastic champion of our work and throughout her role as patron attended many of our events.