In a display of solidarity, trainer Peter-John Parsard has announced that he will donate all his earnings from horse racing for the month of November to the hurricane relief fund, supporting the victims of the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall last week, bringing with it sustained winds exceeding 185 miles per hour, torrential rains, and widespread destruction across Jamaica. The western parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James were among the hardest hit, with homes flattened, roads washed away, and thousands of families displaced.

“What we’ve seen since Hurricane Melissa hit is nothing short of heartbreaking. Entire communities have been reduced to rubble. The plight of many Jamaicans is one of horror, uncertainty, and unimaginable loss,” Parsard said.

“I may be just one person, but I believe in the power of collective action. If my earnings this month can help even a handful of families getting relief, then it’s worth every cent. This is not just about charity — it’s about duty, about standing with our people when they need us most,” he further said.

The Jamaican Government has activated an emergency relief fund to provide essential support to those affected, including food, shelter, medical aid, and rebuilding assistance. The official Support Jamaica Disaster Relief portal has outlined a preliminary needs list for over 400,000 affected residents, including essentials like clean water, non-perishable food, hygiene kits, and temporary shelter materials.

Parsard is also calling on the Jamaican Diaspora to rally behind the cause: “Whether you’re in New York, London, Toronto, or Tokyo — if you carry Jamaica in your heart, now is the time to act. We’ve survived hurricanes Charlie, Gilbert, [and] Ivan. We will survive Melissa, too. But we need each other.”