Tie-dye with the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation
Published:Monday | December 10, 2018 | 12:00 AMRocheda Bartley
Stepping out of its corners to champion the cause for children who rely on dialysis is the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation.
The facility is rolling out an independent campaign, which takes the form of a radiant tie-dye fundraising initiative, to meet a target of $100,000.
Normally the group gets its funding through donations, but now it has decided to go a bit further to ensure that it is always able to support boys and girls across Jamaica.
The organisation, which is spearheaded by a spirited mother-daughter duo, paediatric nephrologist Dr Maolynne Miller and Erin Hayle, offsets the full cost of treatment for its beneficiaries.
Describing the initiative as an exciting project, Hayle explained that it's only possible because of the selfless acts of a number of the group's committed participants.
"We got the idea from Roena Williams, one of our dedicated volunteers. I'm excited because all of the proceedings from the shirts will come directly to us. I don't have to worry about paying back any company, because it is a collaborative effort," Hayle said.
The T-shirts are on sale at Art Connect JA, located at Devon House, and Bookophilia on Hope Road, St Andrew.
PASSION
The two are super passionate about the cause and hope to continue making lasting differences in the lives of others.
Currently, the six-year-old foundation is the only one of its kind and it grew out of the need of helping the vulnerable.
"Right now in Jamaica, kidney transplant is not an option for children, and the help that they need is only available at the University Hospital of the West Indies. It's also expensive and is needed three times a week, so we know most parents won't be able to afford it and that's where we come in," Miller explained to Outlook.
According to Miller, some of these children depend on the dialysis for years, while some restore their health after a number of sessions of being hooked up on a machine.
"What drives me is the look on the children's faces as well as their parents'. Our 'Kidney Kids' look beautiful. They look like normal, healthy children, although they are on the dialysis.
For more information, contact the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation at 876-754-5776 or jakidney.kids@gmail.com.