A SERIOUSLY –ill five-year-old boy dreams of flying in an airplane. He and other children with life-threatening medical conditions will have their wishes granted through the Precious Touch Foundation Inc., an organization set up to fulfill the special wishes of such children.
The president and several directors of the Foundation recently sat down with members of CIBC Reinsurance Company Limited as the company representative, Jacqui Mahon, presented the Foundation with $20,000 to assist with the Foundation’s granting of special wishes to critically-ill children.
Lawrie McGill, President, and CEO of CIBC Reinsurance noted that the company had actively sought to support the Foundation because of the tremendous work it was doing not only for children but also their families. He noted that the company’s parent, CIBC, has been involved in a similar programme in Canada for a number of years. “For 25 years CIBC has been supporting the Children’s Wish Foundation in Canada and, with CIBC Reinsurance Company located in Barbados, we thought it was important to support a similar initiative here.”
Mr. McGill added, “Through this presentation, we also wish to assist with the Foundation’s efforts to raise the profile of their outreach and mission so that others can contribute and support their sterling efforts.”
Founder and President of the Precious Touch Foundation, Adorial Maxwell-Hazell, expressed her organisation’s gratitude. “We are pleased that the CIBC Reinsurance has recognized us and the work that we’re doing. And we’re also pleased to say that we’ve never disappointed a child who wanted a wish to be granted.”
Vice-President of the Foundation, St. Auban Callender, noted that the presentation by CIBC Reinsurance would enable the organization to confidently fulfill its commitments. In explaining the process of how children are identified for the granting of wishes, Mr. Callender said that most cases were referred to the Foundation by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, often through the children’s ward.
Cameron Connolly, Pastor and a director of the Foundation, said he felt fortunate to serve. “It’s not only about touching the lives of the children but their families also. We try to assist the family by ministering to them – spiritually, psychological and emotional. It’s a long-term relationship we build with the entire family.”
This week marked the fifth anniversary of the Foundation which grants special wishes for children between the ages of 2 and 16 with life-threatening medical conditions. The Foundation is currently able to assist about three children a year, though in one year they were able to grant wishes for seven children. The generous donation from CIBC Reinsurance assures that more children will have their wish come true.
(Article Taken from the November 27, 2012 issue of The Barbados Advocate)
