Giving Back to The Fatherland
My Vincentian Roots
My father was born in St. Vincent and The Grenadines (SVG) in the West Indies and came to the United States in the late sixties to run track for the University of Washington where he met my mother. We visited SVG as a family in 1980 I believe it was and until 2015 I hadn’t been back since. My dad had visited once or twice but he really made the U.S. his home.
My family that lives there had visited us a few times over the years and his cousin (pictured above to my right) actually lived with us in Seattle while she obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington. We became really close when she lived with us and we’ve kept in touch via email and now What’s App. Dr. Rosalind Ambrose is her name. She is a radiologist and started the first imaging center in St. Vincent. After my breast cancer diagnosis, she would always send me pictures of The St. Vincent and The Grenadines Medical Association breast cancer awareness event they hold every October.
SVG, like most Caribbean islands, is third world. There are a lot of poor people. Also, being an island it can be difficult to acquire medication. When I learned that most people who are diagnosed with cancer in my fatherland (which is what I like to call it) have limited options for treatment, I immediately wanted to help. Currently, their options are 1) to travel to neighboring islands for treatment if they can afford it and are healthy enough to make the trip (best case scenario) or 2) forgo treatment and possibly die if they can’t afford it (worst case scenario).
When I learned that most people who are diagnosed with cancer in my fatherland (which is what I like to call it) have limited options for treatment I immediately wanted to help.
Dig in Your Heels for a Worthy Cause
I was so excited to lend a hand when my cousin told me that she was working on a crowdfunding campaign to establish a treatment center. I had done a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to publish my memoir so I felt I could offer my expertise. 🙂 Additionally, I decided to have a “webathon” to raise funds live online as I spoke to people in SVG and in person with my cancer survivor friends at home. The live videos can be viewed on my Facebook page. I also donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale of my book, Dig in Your Heels, for a few months.
The campaign was a lot of fun! I had planned to go down there for Carnival that year so I wanted to bring a check with me to present to the association. I raised a total of $2,500! The goal was $250,000 and Lord knows I think big and was hoping for a miracle to raise it all but what I was able to raise will go a long way. I was also able to donate a book to someone going through treatment and left one at the library as well. I plan to continue supporting my fatherland and their efforts to fight cancer. One day we will get that treatment center built but it felt good to give back and do something rather than nothing. Every little bit helps.
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