My name is Rose and I am fundraising on behalf of my family in Montego Bay, Jamaica, whose lives have been turned upside down in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

On Tuesday 28th October, hurricane Melissa raged towards the west of Jamaica. My cousins in Montego Bay feared their modest homes would not withstand Melissa’s 85mph winds. They reached out to my 86 year old grandma and sheltered in the home that she had spent a lifetime building through her career-long service as an NHS nurse in the UK.

By Wednesday 29th October, the homes of both of my cousins had been reduced to rubble. The roof of my grandma’s home was shattered, the house open to the elements. My cousins continue to shelter at my grandma’s whose home has no running water or electricity. While they are safe, their concerns about rebuilding for their families worsen with each passing day, and they are stuck in limbo without a roof over their head. My grandma was due to return to Jamaica from the UK the week Melissa hit - her flights back to Jamaica have been cancelled for the foreseeable; she remains safe in the UK with my parents.

While we have tried our best as a family to repair and recover within our own capacity, it has become clear that the level of damage to repair far exceeds what we have to give. My family wishes to appeal to the generosity and compassion of those in our extended community: we hope to fundraise £15,000 so that our family in Montego Bay can repair and rebuild.

Funds will go towards labour and materials to rebuild the roof of my 86 year old grandmother’s house, and to rebuild the respective homes of my cousins, O'Neill and Gordon.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We're deeply grateful for any support you're able to offer, whether that's a donation, or sharing this with anyone you know who'd be willing to help. Thank you for your kindness and compassion during this difficult time.