Sunrise Strides Raises Over $5,000 for Rica Pierre

The Bocage SDA Adventist Youth Society raised over $5,000 during its recent campaign to support church member Rica Pierre who is battling chronic kidney disease. 

The fundraising event, a fun walk hosted on December 15, saw over 60 participants gather at the Bocage church to embark on what would be a challenging yet meaningful journey for a worthy cause. An after-walk breakfast was also supported by walkers and passersby.

Curzan James, a member of the AY team, explained that this initiative was crucial, given the severity of Pierre’s condition.

“For us, this campaign is very close to our hearts because Rica is a sister to us, both from the church and the community. She’s in urgent need of treatment. This isn’t just a mild illness—it’s life-threatening, and she needs this transplant. It was a matter of life or death for us. We had to find a way to help her raise the necessary funds to undergo the procedure,” he said.

James expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming turnout.

“We were amazed by the amount of support we received from the community. There were people we don’t see often, but they came out to walk, and some even registered and paid without walking,” he shared.

The total funds raised so far exceed $30,000, surpassing the youth group’s original goal of $20,000. However, Pierre requires additional support to cover her medical expenses, including an upcoming trip for surgery trip. The new goal to meet all of Rica’s medical needs, including the surgery cost, is $40,000.

“We are still encouraging people to continue contributing through GoFundMe and bank transfers,” James added.

Persons interested in donating can use the following information:

GoFundMe Link:https://www.gofundme.com/f/ricas-treatment-and-surgery-for-kidney-disease

Banking Information:Account Name: Rica PierreBank: Bank of Saint LuciaBranch: Bridge StreetAccount Type: SavingsAccount Number: 933966724