In the wake of Hurricane Melissa (the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Jamaica) many communities are facing hardships. As President of the Rotaract Club of St. Andrew, I am joining with my fellow clubs in eastern Jamaica to provide direct relief to the worst-affected areas. Our work has already begun, and we will be continuing these efforts well into next year as communities rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and sense of security.

To support this, I am launching a personal fundraising challenge: 32 at 32 for 32;

I will run 32 kilometres (split into an 11k run then a half marathons runs because id like to walk the next day) on my 32nd birthday Saturday, November 22nd, and will continue runs throughout the rest of the month. I invite anyone who wishes to join me in Kingston or virtually , and to share the journey on your social media platforms to spread the word. If you have never given me a birthday present or have been unsure of what to gift me now is the time!

Our fundraising goal is JMD $320,000 (approximately USD $2,000).

Every dollar contributes directly to our Rotaract Club’s relief initiatives, including:

-Emergency food, water, and hygiene supplies

-Replacement of school materials for affected students

-Assistance to vulnerable households identified through local partners

-Community clean-up and recovery projects

-Longer-term rebuilding support planned for 2025

-Transportation & volunteer support

Through the Rotaract network we'll execute on and transparent distribution of aid by partnering with community organizers and other organizations. Our first trip out west will be in conjunction with the Rotary club of Negril in affected areas harder to reach by traditional methods. We will keep record expenditure, provide ongoing updates on usage and the communities benefiting from your generosity.

Thanks for thinking of Jamaica in this difficult time.

More details to follow — and I hope you’ll join me on the road, in person or in spirit.