YOUNG LUPUS WARRIORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS FUNDRAISE FOR LFJ
The Month of May saw an inspiring trend of young persons and business owners using their skills and resources to support the work of Lupus Foundation of Jamaica.
Georgia Johnson a lupus warrior, LFJ volunteer and part of the team planning for World Lupus Day 2022, is a Baker by profession, and decided to make her added contribution by baking specially designed ribbon-shaped sugar cookies to raise awareness and funds in support of the Effort.
Danyelle Pike, aesthetician and owner of Lev’s Beauty Bar, who is also a Lupus Warrior, invited other business owners to support LFJ with a portion of their earnings during the Month of May through her Paint May Purple Initiative.
Miss Pike accompanied Colleagues Timothy South, Shaquille Blake and Jason McDowell, executive directors of OSA Saturday’s on a visit to LFJ Help Centre on June 7 to hand over the donation of $67,000 JMD. Timothy South had this to say on behalf of the Team: “We decided to make a donation towards the Paint May Purple Initiative to empower other lupus warriors and to just add some value to the lupus community with this donation. For us it was a no-brainer because we’ve all had lives that were affected by lupus.”
Danyelle Pike (centre) of Lev's Beauty Bar is flanked by (from L) Shaquille Blake, Jason McDowell and Timothy South of OSA Saturdays as they get ready to present their donation to Board members of the Lupus Foundation of Jamaica Dr Desiree Tulloch-Reid and Mr Joel Holding (R).
Kristopher Thompson of 658 Series was soon to follow with their own donation of $100,000 on June 13. “Miss Danyelle Pike had reached out to us from the 658 Series Team last month and had asked if we would be interested in supporting the Lupus Foundation. We decided that we would make a $100,000 donation towards the Foundation.
“We know medication and treatment is quite expensive and in Jamaica we have one of the highest rates of persons affected by Lupus. It is our intent and hope that this donation will help ease the pain/burden for at least one individual fighting through the challenges that may come with this illness.”
Pike explained that this is her second staging of the Paint May Purple fundraising initiative. “I just wanted to bring on some younger business owners, to get them involved as well, in not only the Foundation but the movement itself – to get persons talking about it and raising as much awareness as I can; so any way I can help I am happy to do so. "
Miss Pike gave her own commendation of the work of the Foundation: “Thank you all for all that you do because it’s a lot - Just in terms of medication, finding doctors, dealing with the symptoms and all of those things - It’s not easy so you guys are doing a lot and I’m grateful for that.
“I like helping people and know how hard it is living with lupus – and if people are trying to help the community then I am more than happy to help in any way I can.”
