To mark his 70th birthday on March 4, Sephron Mair, a Jamaican living in United States, returned to the island to host a celebratory party and at the same time donate $250,000 to Adrianna Laing, the 13-year-old Westmoreland burn victim who is due back in Jamaica sometime next week.
Mair donated the funds to Laing, who is currently in the United States completing treatment after suffering severe and life-threatening burns in a September 2022 fire at her home in Westmoreland. The fire claimed the lives of the teen's three brothers, eight-year-old Adrianno Laing and seven-year-old twins Jayden and Jorden Laing.
When Adrianna returns to Jamaica, she will need somewhere to live and a lot of money to maintain good health.
While the discussions continue regarding the construction of a house for Adrianna and her father Adrian, Mair, in the meantime, made the contribution to help with some of her immediate needs.
Projects manager of the Sanmerna Foundation — a Kingston-based non-profit organisation providing opportunities to young, disadvantaged youth and elderly — Stephen Josephs collected the cheque from Mair on behalf of Laing.
"What we had hoped to do was to help her out with her current needs, so I made this donation. I had hoped that it would open a window to have others beginning to come on-board. She is imminently due there now," Mair told the Jamaica Observer, explaining that he has been looking out for Adrianna, "from day one".
Josephs has been leading the charge in terms of coordinating with hospitals and donors and other people who have been crucial in Adrianna's recovery process.
"She is due to be back on island and will be coming back as a special child. When she gets back, her needs and treatment [will be] very expensive to maintain. It is a good gesture that can help her in the recovery process," he said.
People wishing to donate to Adrianna can do so through the National Commercial Bank Negril, account #604375622. Those familiar with the GofundMe platform can visit (https://gofund.me/8c86de79) to donate.
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