Last month, 30 athletes from across Sandals' global operation – including a handful of representatives from its UK sales and marketing representative, Unique Vacations – took part in a gruelling four-day charity challenge laid on by the Sandals Foundations.
The third annual Sandals Foundation Island Challenge, which was this year held in Saint Lucia, smashed its £100,000 fundraising target, with the proceeds going towards life-saving equipment for a special care baby unit on the island.
However, Sandals has now confirmed some of the extra money raised beyond the £100,000 target will be put towards helping Jamaica, where Sandals is headquartered, recover from Hurricane Melissa – a category five storm. The United Nations estimated around 1.5 million Jamaicans have been affected by the hurricane.
Similar to the support provided in Saint Lucia, the funds will purchase equipment and resources for the Bustamente Hospital for Children in Kingston, which cares for critically ill newborns, babies and children.
These machines and supplies include a neonatal ventilator, an infusion pump, a blood gas analyser, a catheter, a blood pressure machine, a humidifier, a nebuliser or suction machine, an IV pole and an exam light.
Dr Michelle-Ann Dawson, Bustamente's chief medical officer, said four of the island's major paediatric centres had been affected by the hurricane, resulting in her unit taking in children from other centres in need of urgent or specialist care.
"It’s going to be difficult for parents because some [children] may have to be separated temporarily from their families, but we are also looking at how we can support the parents with care packages, with information, dialogue and psychological support,” she added.
The Sandals Foundation has set up a hurricane relief fund and is working with communities on the ground to support them, as well as with authorities – including Jamaica's ministry of health and wellness – to determine the resources needed to strengthen services and capacity.
It has so far delivered emergency supplies, care packages and water to people in hard to reach areas. It has also partnered with World Central Kitchen to establish kitchen hubs in western Jamaica, and is involved in longer-term planning to restore health and educational infrastructure.
Unique Caribbean Holidays Ltd, the UK's in-house tour operator for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, has pledged to donate £10 for every booking made through to the end of November to the foundation's hurricane relief fund.
Heidi Clake, the foundation's executive director, said: "Our children and healthcare are two areas that resonate with us, especially in times of emergency. We are very pleased to be able to hand over this equipment that we hope will help in the weeks ahead until our other hospitals are able to recover."
