Cancer patient calls for general fund to aid persons in need
“I don’t want people to run and rally around because it’s Roy, just look around the community and see where you could lend a hand,” said Mr Hodge as he made a call for the establishment of a fund to assist persons in the West End community.
Mr Roy A. Hodge is a revered member of the West End, Tortola community who has been fighting cancer for a number of years. Recently, the 1970’s Youth Choir of the Zion Hill Methodist Church reunited specifically to raise funds to assist in offsetting medical expenses for Mr Hodge.
It was during the brief moments that Mr Hodge was given to say a few words that he chose not to plead his own cause but rather that of other persons within West End community that may be facing dire circumstances other than medical.
“Every day we get up in this community and there are people, they might not have cancer, but they have many problems that we can contribute towards helping them to overcome and make our society better and nobody have nothing to say or a hand to reach out and to help,” said Mr Hodge.
He said he strongly believed that it is time West Enders come together as a community. “Pick out some of the best and brightest, and some of them who not too good and some of them who are of no use at all and form a nucleus.” He said involving persons who may not know anything would be placing them in a position to learn something. “So don’t think I putting down some people, I lifting everybody up,” he clarified.
He said the group should be used to build a fund in the community, one which he stressed must be done the legal way to raise or pool resources for bringing much needed relief to residents. “This fund must be there, not for people to buy a fancy car, but there are some among us who can’t pay their light bill on time, there are some among us who don’t eat on time, there are some among us who can’t fix their roof, who can’t cut their yard,” said Mr Hodge.
He stressed that it is time that as a closely knitted community they make a stronger effort to look out for each other in a more comprehensive way to make life easier for each other. “Not as a political vote getting system or what’s in it for me by cutting the road side and I going to do a bad job and still get the money. Not that kind of thing it must be something that when anybody needs help they can come and get it.”
Mr Hodge went as far as to explaining that the fund could be maintained through a revolving system. He said while there are persons who would be in a position to repay monies given to them there will be those who would not be able to but that must not disqualify them from benefitting.
He suggested that an evaluation and assessment system be put in place to validate requested assistance as well. “It’s time, in my opinion, and that’s what I want to leave with you the people of this community. And I want to tell you that I don’t plan to go anywhere right now at all, so don’t worry about this is the last time you seeing me,” he assured.
Mr Hodge was also a member of the 1970’s Youth Choir. He is a well known poet and writer and produced two books in his early days. In the quest to continue raising funds to assist Mr Hodge, the now reunited choir will be reproducing one of his books to be sold among the masses.
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11 Responses to “Cancer patient calls for general fund to aid persons in need”
So very very true! Here here!
I think that the BVI as a whole should still be a fairly close knit community and that we should all be looking out for each other as much as possible . . . and not for the sake of "what will I get in return?", but out of genuine compassion and desire to help our neighbors.