September 11, the date Cayman suffered the ravages of Hurricane Ivan last year, will see a special fund-raiser here in aid of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast.
Local resident Andrew Hope, who is a Marine Enforcement Officer with the Department of Environment, is independently organising a special fund-raising effort called Dive Aid.
This will involve specific dive operators in Cayman donating the proceeds of dive excursions on this coming Sunday, 11 September, to the cause.
‘We lost our roof during Hurricane Ivan and we thought we were badly off. But these people lost everything,’ said Mr. Hope.
It is hoped that shore diving, for a cost of $10 will be on offer and also boat operated dives to fund-raise for the cause, and if about 1,000 divers participate this would bring in a total of about $10,000 for the cause.
Watch out for a list of participating dive operators which will appear in this coming Thursday’s Caymanian Compass and other local media.
The proceeds will be donated to the victims via the American Red Cross, via the British Red Cross Cayman Islands’ branch.
Mr. Hope, who has worked as a dive instructor, felt that the dive business is a good way to raise money as it is an internationally based water sport on the island. He feels it is important to help the United States’ community in its time of need.
‘Many of them helped us after Ivan, with children attending their schools, giving us discounts in their stores and refuge in their homes. The American tourists also started to come back here as soon as they could,’ he said, ‘So I think it is time to return the favour to them’.
Dive operators interested in signing up can contact Andrew at 925-5095.
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