Honour Kelsey Ferrigon’s Light and Legacy

Help Us Honour Kelsey Ferrigon’s Light and Legacy

The devastating loss of Kelsey Ferrigon, a radiant 9-year-old girl whose life was cruelly cut short in her hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, has heartbroken and shaken us, a group of Jamaicans living in Canada. The anguish that swept through her community has reached far beyond Jamaica’s shores, piercing the hearts of many Jamaicans abroad, especially those of us in Canada, who still call Jamaica home in our hearts.

Kelsey's story is not just a headline; it is the shattering of a young, innocent life filled with promise, joy, and love. It is the story of a beloved daughter, sister, and student whose smile brightened the halls of St. John's Primary School and whose gentle spirit left an imprint on everyone she met.

As reported by the Jamaica Gleaner, her principal remembers Kelsey as an angel on earth. “‘She was an angel,’ said Sophia Forbes, principal of St John's Primary School in Kingston, where the nine-year-old was in grade four.” Ms. Forbes shared that Kelsey was “always smiling” and that she “would often hug her classmates and teachers,” describing her as “sweet, gentle, kind, and humble.”

The grief that now grips her school and community is unbearable. The Radio Jamaica News reported how her school has been transformed into a space of mourning, with students and teachers gathering in sorrow, their tears mingling with prayers as they tried to process the unbearable loss. The school’s guidance counsellor recounted how Kelsey’s classmates wept openly, hugging each other for comfort in a space that once echoed with laughter.

Kelsey’s family is now left in indescribable pain, her siblings facing the unimaginable absence of their sister, their childhood forever altered. As Jamaicans in the diaspora, we feel a duty to stand with this family, to offer not only our prayers but also tangible support to ease some of the burdens they now carry.

We have created this GoFundMe campaign with a goal to raise $5,000 CAD:

In addition to this fundraising effort, we will be holding a Candlelight Ceremony in Toronto to honour Kelsey's life and legacy. This will be a night of remembrance, reflection, and love. We invite everyone to join us as we stand together for Kelsey and all the voiceless children whose stories demand to be heard.

Details:

This night will be held under the theme "Shining Light: Together, we shine for the voiceless. Together we stand." We will try our best to livestream the event.

This is not just about money. It is about love. It is about solidarity. It is about honouring Kelsey’s life in the way she lived, with kindness, with generosity, with open arms. It is about ensuring her siblings know they are not alone. That Kelsey’s name will not fade into silence.

We invite you to read more about Kelsey’s life and how the community is mourning her (Trigger Warning):

We ask you to give out of love for Kelsey and the children who remain behind, children who deserve to know that kindness still exists, that strangers can become family when tragedy strikes.

Let us come together as a global Jamaican family, as human beings, to wrap Kelsey’s family and community in love, to offer them a thread of hope amidst the unimaginable.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal. More importantly, it sends a message: Kelsey mattered. She still does. And through our actions, her light will never dim.

Donate Now

Your gift today will go directly to Kelsey’s family and support the scholarship fund in her memory. Every dollar is a tribute to her life, her siblings, and her community. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced but we expect it to be held in at least two weeks. Donate today!

Share Kelsey’s Story

If you cannot give, we ask you to please share this page widely. Together, we can show that love still triumphs, even in the darkest of days.

Thank you for standing with us.