Marcus Akin, known for his appearance on Big Brother in 2009, has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking £3,500 to cover private medical treatment. The 46-year-old, who also goes by the nickname 'The Dark Horse', describes his appeal as a 'social experiment'. He claims to have been on an NHS waiting list for an operation for over seven years, and says he has already spent £10,000 on private treatments and medical gadgets.
Akin, who worked as a window fitter before entering the Big Brother house, stayed on the show for 13 weeks. After his eviction, he appeared in two low-budget films, Zombie Hood and Zombie from Ireland. In his fundraising plea, he expressed frustration with the NHS management, stating: 'I simply hate the heartless management class that take all the money when it should go to the hardworking doctors and nurses.'
The former reality star says the total cost of his required private operations is £37,000. He has set a GoFundMe target of £3,500, but according to The Sun, only £10 had been raised at the time of publication. Akin has also taken time off work for lumbar injections and a gastronemeus release, which he says were ineffective.
Fans have reacted with mixed feelings. Some suggested he could start a Patreon for behind-the-scenes Big Brother content, while others criticised his refusal to claim benefits and his framing of the appeal as an 'experiment'. One commenter said: 'I hope he gets better but writing you’re above applying for benefits when you’re in a position of clearly needing them is a wild take.'
