A fundraising campaign at Western University is ramping up to send the body of a popular Huron College student home to his African country.
Cameroon native Francis Fondoh, 24, was a new Canadian citizen and in his fifth year at school when he died suddenly last week after a brief illness.
Fondoh is being remembered as a friendly face around Huron University College.
"He always had that huge smile on his face and he was just...it made you comfortable and it made you want to be his friend and be with him," says friend Stephanie Johns
Huron principal Stephen McClatchie describes him as the quintessential student, involving himself in many aspects of campus life.
"He had all kinds of circles of friends that overlapped. He was involved on the main campus in the drama society. He was involved in the language courses, that was his major. He had been on exchange," McClatchie says.
A campaign is currently underway to help send his body home to Cameroon, with a goal of $15,000.
"It's just important for the family so it's important to us. I know that if it was the other way around, he would do everything in his power to make sure our families' wishes were brought to life kind of thing," says Johns
Donations can be made at the Francis Fondoh page at gofundme.com.
Visitation for Fondoh will be held in the Huron College chapel Tuesday at 11 a.m., followed by a service at 2 p.m.
