Richard Coker-Enahoro was born in Lagos to media royalty and
legendary TV personalities Miss Julie Coker and Michael Enahoro, on 17th
May 1972, who at the time were lauded as Nigeria’s married response to
Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton.
Miss Julie Coker's Album Cover 1967
Miss Julie Coker wins a Lifetime Journalism Award 2014
Both loving parents were unaware that they were carriers of the
Sickle Cell Disease trait; so sadly Richard was born with the inherited
condition of the red blood cells. The most severe form of this disorder is
known as Sickle Cell Anaemia. Other disorders include Cooley's anaemia,
haemoglobin SC and haemoglobin SD disease.
Normal red blood cells are round like
doughnuts, and they move through small blood tubes in the body to deliver
oxygen. Sickle red blood cells become hard, sticky and sickle or crescent shaped.
When these hard and pointed red cells go through the small blood tube, they
clog blood flow and break apart. This can cause pain, tissue damage and a low
blood count, or anaemia. Sickle cell disease is not contagious.
He was endearingly known to his friends and
family alike as,“Richard the Lionheart” for his vision, tenacity, inner strength
and loving heart. With his parents’ work mainly based in Nigeria: and due to his
delicate disposition and constant need to go to hospitals to oxidise his blood,
at 7 years young Richard moved to the UK to live with his dear Uncle and Aunty
Dr Ben & Mrs Ibiene Epega and family where he attended the private
preparatory Holmewood House School in Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent,
England.
Richard & I at Cannes Film Festival 1995
His parents’ talents in Media & TV was
also in his every fibre of his being. In England his love for the Arts was
nurtured and flourished especially in the subjects of English language, English
literature, theatrical plays, cinematography and music. At the age of 14 he
made his 1st Music Video and won the Artist of the Year Prize at his
secondary school Mayfield College, Mayfield, East Sussex, England.
Mayfield College, East Sussex (Defunct)
Frequent returns to his parents in Nigeria
further fuelled his love of the Arts. His excursions home did have an advantage,
as a sickle cell disorder sufferer; he couldn’t contract malaria. Although an
avid fan of sports and live entertainment Richard was forced to spend most of
his early life in sick bays and the University College Hospital, London hospital
wards due to his illness. Turning adversity to advantage he seized this
opportunity and started writing scripts for short films and producing music
videos for up and coming artists of all genres.
Seeing Richard had a talent for producing
beauty through photography, cinematography and the written word; a lecturer
from the National Film & Television School gave him a unique opportunity to
attain a scholarship and study there for 3 years. Upon graduating he was
snatched up by a prominent media company called Media Circus where he worked as
a director and producer of short films & music videos.
The Richard Coker Foundation make a donation to St Peter's Faji Church, Lagos Island May 2014
His work took him numerous times to
international film festivals including Cannes where he rubbed shoulders & conversed
with the glitterati and talented including Sigourney Weaver, Dennis Hopper, Steven Spielberg, George
Lucas & the Cohen Brothers.
The Richard Coker Foundation make donation to the Kinabuti Iniatiative (Project Makoko) May 2014
On the cusp of
international acclaim Richard’s illness slowly began to take full control of
his life when in his late twenty’s he contracted leukaemia as an offshoot of
his inherent Sickle Cell Disease. Leukaemia is a type of cancer of
the blood or bone marrow
characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called
"blasts". Leukaemia is a broad term
covering a spectrum of diseases. In turn, it is part of the even broader group
of diseases affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid system,
which are all known as hematological neoplasms.
Although a treatable disease trough chemotherapy, medical radiation therapy, hormone treatments, or bone marrow transplant; although he fought it
for over 2 years, Richard’s body relented to the attached on 29th
May 2004, 2 weeks after his birthday in
London.
The Richard Coker Foundation gives Alms to the Poor May 2014
Aunty Julie Coker hands out Alms to the poor
RCF Eye Clinic Patients , Lagos Island, May 2014
RCF with Eye Clinic Doctor & Sister
RCF & Kinabuti Fashion Initiate donate in Makoko Village
RCF make their way to Makoko Floating School
Kinabuti Fashion Initiative on the way to Makoko Floating School
RCF & Kinabuti on canoe to Makoko Village's Floating School
RCF Aunty Julie surveys the floating village on the way to the school
Makoko Floating Village Kids
Makoko Floating Village staple diet and sales of Oysters
Makoko Village pre Rush Hour
Makoko Village Rush Hour looms
Makoko Rush Hour in full flow
RCF hand over cheque to Kinabuti Initiative in the Guardian Newspaper
RCF & Kinabuti Fashion Initiate donate in Makoko Village
His legacy lives on through the Richard
Coker Foundation (www.richardcokerfoundation.webs.com and https://twitter.com/TheRCFoundation )
which is a non-profit
organisation whose aim is to raise funds with specific regard to helping the
underprivileged & aiding in the eradication of the Sickle Cell Anaemia
Disease. The foundation was established
in late 2004 by his mother Miss Julie Coker, adoptive cousins Yewande,
Baba-Jallah and Jay Jay Epega and many dear friends.
RCF help people patiently waiting
This story is about a
lion in our midst whose life, although short, was not in vain as it has helped
bring happiness to many and prolonged life to more than a few.
RCF donates to Genotype Foundation
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