Abigail Patterson
With a hearing-impaired daughter needing surgery, Dexter Patterson said he was pushed to put on an event to help her.
Patterson, along with his partners Maurice Williams and Christopher Goulbourne from Solid Gold Entertainment, will be hosting a charity show called 'Magnum East Kingston Explosion' on Friday, May 22. The event is being held in aid of the Project Abigail Hearing Fund, which Patterson is starting for hearing-impaired children and to assist the McGregor Community Centre on Langston Terrace in east Kingston.
"I want to start the Project Abigail Hearing Fund and maybe outside persons can come on board in the future. But I want to get it started now 'cause I don't want other children to suffer the way my daughter did," Patterson told The Gleaner.
"She born hearing, but at age two, she got up one morning staggering. We took her to Busta-mante Children's Hospital where she was admitted for two weeks. They did all kinds of tests before they realised that she couldn't hear."
At a great cost
Patterson said he was told that her hearing impairment may have been caused by fluids in her head at birth. Now, she can only hear a few things, and would need a high-tech hearing aid to hear clearly. He said he made attempts to have the surgery done at the time, but the cost was beyond his reach; more than a million dollars.
"The sooner the surgery is done, the better. But even if I get the money to do the surgery, it would still be hard 'cause after that, there is therapy, which costs a lot as well," he said.
To help his six-year-old daughter's plight, Patterson said he tried to host the popular after-party for Boys and Girls' Championships, Puma Finish Line, last year. But on two occasions a permit was denied for the event, leaving the promoters with expenses. A permit was even denied earlier this year. However, when it was held two weeks ago, there was not a full house.
"We didn't want any handout, so that is why we decided to put on the event. But it made me feel terrible (when it was not held) 'cause we know that it was for a major cause. It really put a dent in our steps," Patterson told The Gleaner.
For a worthy cause
Abigail Patterson is not the only one needing help. In an article 'School for the Deaf Children Need Help', published on the Jamaica Information Service website on March 27, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Andrew Gallimore, appealed to corporate Jamaica to come to the aid of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), while pledging his ministry's full support for the cash-strapped institution. Funds were needed to help the 261 students enrolled at the CCCD's three campuses in Kingston, Manchester and Montego Bay. Often, there are pleas for help frommembers of the deaf community in Jamaica.
In addition to the Project Abigail Hearing Fund, proceeds from the event will go to the McGregor Community Centre. Patterson said money from the event will be used to buy computers and install lights and other infrastructure needed for the centre.
At East Kingston Explosion, which will be held at the McGregor Community Centre, there will be performances by artistes like Lutan Fyah, Beenie Man, Konshens, Nitty Kutchie, Andrew and Wadda Blood, Hyah Slyce, Red Rat, Lil Joe, Nesbeth, Chi Ching Ching and Mavado. Selectors include Mighty Travellers, Static Outkast, CD Master and Jazzy J from Swatch International.
The artistes will be performing for free.
Win tickets to Big Ship's Rocksteady Meets Reggae and Dancehall on Saturday, May 23, at the Jamalco Sports Complex (Hayes, Clarendon). Callers can win one giveaway (two tickets) each day for nine days, from Wednesday, May 13 to Friday, May 22.
To enter, call 1-888-843-7827 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. today. No calls will be accepted before or after this time. The first correct answer wins and the same caller cannot win twice.
Question 5
Can you name any three artistes who will be performing in the 'Young Stars' segment at Rock-steady Meets Reggae and Dancehall on Saturday, May 23, at the Jamalco Sports Complex in Hayes, Clarendon?