Physics teacher John O’Brien was so moved by the compassion and support his friend received from Jasmine during his battle with cancer that he aims to walk 42 kilometres from West Bay to East End to raise funds for the local charity.
“[The team at Jasmine] truly are inspiring heroes,” O’Brien told the Cayman Compass Friday via email as he launched his fundraising mission for the palliative care charity.
O’Brien, who teaches at St. Ignatius, is set to begin his walk on 1 June at 7pm from the Cayman Turtle Centre in West Bay to East End near the post office.
He said he wanted to pay homage to the Jasmine team through his walk, which he estimated would take about nine hours.
“Recently, a friend of mine, Noel, passed and was supported by the great staff here at Jasmine. I wish to give back a small token of my gratitude to the superb work they do,” he said, explaining why he chose to help the charity.
Giving back
O’Brien said as a physics teacher for almost 20 years in different countries, he has consistently endeavoured to work with various charities and organisations to benefit the communities where he lived.
This walk, he said, is a continuation of those efforts.
“This opportunity to give back to these great people at Jasmine truly invigorates me and I feel that the whole process will be a very cathartic experience,” he said.
O’Brien said he completed a similar hike in Spain through the Tramuntana mountains and has been long-distance running/walking over the past couple of months to prepare for his latest effort.
He called on the community to continue to rally around Jasmine.
“I would encourage anyone on the island to think about supporting Jasmine, either by gaining sponsors or signing up for their volunteer programme, as there are many unsung heroes here helping the organisation to run its initiatives,” he said.
Every donation counts
Sophie Munden, Jasmine marketing and events coordinator, welcomed O’Brien’s effort.
She said community-driven initiatives like the walk are “invaluable” and help offset the increasing demands on the local charity.
“In recent years, we’ve seen a significant increase in our patient numbers, which is a trend we anticipate will continue as the population ages. Currently we are assisting approximately 70 families each month. While it’s encouraging that more people are seeking our services and getting the support they need following a serious diagnosis, this increased demand also brings additional expenses,” Munden told the Compass via email.
She said everyone at Jasmine is deeply honoured by O’Brien’s decision to undertake such an incredible feat to raise funds for the organisation.
“As a non-profit, we rely heavily on the generosity of the community to provide free palliative and hospice care to those facing serious illnesses in the Cayman Islands. With over 90% of our funding coming from donations and fundraisers, this kind of support is crucial to our ability to provide help to those that need it,” she added.
Munden said she hopes the community will rally behind O’Brien as he takes on this challenge.
“Every contribution counts. Just $25 can fund a caregiver visit to a patient’s home, making a significant impact on their quality of life. We are immensely grateful for the support and creativity shown by individuals like John, which enable us to continue our vital work,” she said.
O’Brien added his own plea for funds, saying that the community can give through Jasmine’s donation page and each contribution “will be received with the strongest feelings of appreciation and humble gratitude”.
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