A fundraising drive launched by a local doctor for a patient saddled with rental arrears has already netted thousands of dollars.

Kyjuan Brown started a GoFundMe page for Natasha York, who suffers major seizures, at the weekend with a goal of $22,800.

By last night more than $10,000 had already being provided by about 100 donors.

Dr Brown, a general practitioner, said the support was “phenomenal”.

He added: “I’m just absolutely floored by the response that we have received.

“It really just goes to show the Bermudian spirit.”

Dr Brown said that in addition to funds committed on the website people had also made donations for Ms York at his clinic, North Shore Medical & Aesthetics Centre.

He said that the $22,800 goal represented Ms York’s rental arrears dating back ten months, as well as couple of months worth of rent for the future.

Dr Brown said Ms York lost her financial assistance in January.

She was jailed for three months in May after she pleaded guilty to importing 1,430 grams of cannabis products into Bermuda to treat her condition.

Dr Brown said in a statement read at Ms York’s trial that medical marijuana had given her relief from the seizures.

She was granted permission to use medical marijuana months after her arrest.

Dr Brown said Ms York was “an upstanding citizen”.

He added: “She’s just a lady that developed a medical condition — like anyone of us can.

“Anyone of us can have our lives torn apart by seizures or a medical condition.”

Dr Brown said that Ms York’s situation was not unique in Bermuda.

He explained that he had several patients who had medical conditions that left them unable to work.

Dr Brown said: “As a result, they don’t have the health insurance. They are failing into financial disarray.

“We really do need to highlight this and as a society we need to be able to do something about it.”

Dr Brown said that Ms York had began experiencing seizures a few years ago.

He added: “Prior to that, she was a normal, single parent taking care of her two lovely daughters.”