Help Marsh Harbour Family and Gusto Charters
Donation protected
This Is Travis Kelly, his wife Arielle, and his 18 month old son Hunter. They are all Bahamians and up until September 1, lived in Marsh Harbour on the island of Abaco, Bahamas. This man personifies what Bahamian pride, spirit and strength of character is all about. He has spent a lifetime building a reputation in the islands as a captain for hire and the owner/operator of a small fishing charter boat..called the Gusto. He made a consistent living for his family, and is infinitely rich character and reputation. I have never met anyone who knew him who didn’t have great things to say about him.
Hurricane Dorian took almost every possession he and his family owned in Marsh Harbour. He is blessed with surviving the hurricane, and having his wife and son safe. But I would like to tell you his story.
Prior to hurricane Dorian’s arrival Travis put his wife and son on a plane to Nassau, he stayed on Abaco to batten down the hatches. He tied off his boat in a protected cove, secured his house, helped his neighbors and community prepare, then hunkered down and hoped for the best while Arielle and Hunter waited to hear from him. As he sat in his home and rode out the storm he was witness to the force of a storm unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life. Finally in the middle of the worst of it as 200 mph winds tore through the island he realized his home was no longer safe. He ran to his truck, and as he backed out of his driveway to flee to a more fortified shelter he watched as his home began to disintegrate in front of him. As he fled he collected people along the way and had to swim for his life finally making it to the shelter and rode out the storm with at least 21 others… he emerged the next morning to what can only be described as an unimaginable nightmare. His town, his home, his boat, his livelihood, and that of all his friends and neighbors was gone… it ceased to exist, and a desolate landscape of destruction was all that was left. Travis did not wallow in the despair that this new reality presented. He immediately started organizing action, he worked tirelessly for 4 days to start clearing helipads and landing areas for rescue and relief helicopters to come and start airlifting the worst victims. He helped anyone and everyone he could find to get from where they were to somewhere safe. This man, in this situation is as close to a hero as anyone can get. After days of enduring what at best were primitive conditions helping to evacuate those most in need, he finally was able to accept a ride off the island to be reunited with his wife and child. This photo is that moment. After arriving in Nassau, getting a good meal, a good nights sleep and some medical attention for his injuries. He woke the next day and started organizing how to get back to Marsh Harbour with more help, more supplies, more relief.
This man and his family have many friends in need, He has a long road ahead of him, he and his wife have to start over from scratch and rebuild their lives and business. I would hope that any money this campaign raises, he would use to do that, but knowing him as I do, I know he will use most if not all of it to help others, to help his neighbors, help rebuild his community. If you want to help people in Abaco, and want to know that your donation is going to a real person, every cent of this donation goes directly to this man and his family, there is no middle man, no charitable organization overhead, just your generosity, going 100% straight to him and his family to use to help rebuild their lives and their community.
Written by, Ashley Kelly-Henry (sister), and Russell family (close Abaco friends.)
Hurricane Dorian took almost every possession he and his family owned in Marsh Harbour. He is blessed with surviving the hurricane, and having his wife and son safe. But I would like to tell you his story.
Prior to hurricane Dorian’s arrival Travis put his wife and son on a plane to Nassau, he stayed on Abaco to batten down the hatches. He tied off his boat in a protected cove, secured his house, helped his neighbors and community prepare, then hunkered down and hoped for the best while Arielle and Hunter waited to hear from him. As he sat in his home and rode out the storm he was witness to the force of a storm unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life. Finally in the middle of the worst of it as 200 mph winds tore through the island he realized his home was no longer safe. He ran to his truck, and as he backed out of his driveway to flee to a more fortified shelter he watched as his home began to disintegrate in front of him. As he fled he collected people along the way and had to swim for his life finally making it to the shelter and rode out the storm with at least 21 others… he emerged the next morning to what can only be described as an unimaginable nightmare. His town, his home, his boat, his livelihood, and that of all his friends and neighbors was gone… it ceased to exist, and a desolate landscape of destruction was all that was left. Travis did not wallow in the despair that this new reality presented. He immediately started organizing action, he worked tirelessly for 4 days to start clearing helipads and landing areas for rescue and relief helicopters to come and start airlifting the worst victims. He helped anyone and everyone he could find to get from where they were to somewhere safe. This man, in this situation is as close to a hero as anyone can get. After days of enduring what at best were primitive conditions helping to evacuate those most in need, he finally was able to accept a ride off the island to be reunited with his wife and child. This photo is that moment. After arriving in Nassau, getting a good meal, a good nights sleep and some medical attention for his injuries. He woke the next day and started organizing how to get back to Marsh Harbour with more help, more supplies, more relief.
This man and his family have many friends in need, He has a long road ahead of him, he and his wife have to start over from scratch and rebuild their lives and business. I would hope that any money this campaign raises, he would use to do that, but knowing him as I do, I know he will use most if not all of it to help others, to help his neighbors, help rebuild his community. If you want to help people in Abaco, and want to know that your donation is going to a real person, every cent of this donation goes directly to this man and his family, there is no middle man, no charitable organization overhead, just your generosity, going 100% straight to him and his family to use to help rebuild their lives and their community.
Written by, Ashley Kelly-Henry (sister), and Russell family (close Abaco friends.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Lauren Henry
Organizer
Bluffton, SC
Arielle Kelly
Beneficiary