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Hope for Marquez - Police establishes fund for heart surgery

Marquez Henderson, the youngster who needs heart surgery in order to live. - Contributed

MARQUEZ HENDERSON, THE 15-year-old boy who needs heart surgery to repair a valve in his heart has received $12,000 towards his life-saving operation.

The Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) is spearheading a fundraising drive to assist the teenager who lives in Bull Bay, St. Andrew. The money was donated by police officers from the Commissioner's Office and staff members at the RBTT Sovereign Centre branch.

The cost of the surgery, which can be performed at the University Hospital of the West Indies, (UHWI) is $177,737.47, and his mother is an unemployed domestic helper who is unable to find the money. The young boy had to stop attending classes at the Windward Road Primary and Junior High School since June 2003 because of his condition.

Persons can make contributions at the Liguanea branch of RBTT Bank located at Sovereign Centre to the Marquez Henderson Heart Fund Account #0501010103702.

Rowena Gray, a resident of The Bronx in New York, is also spearheading a fundraising drive to assist with Marquez's surgery. Gray has been in constant communication with Marquez's mother since the story was first published in THE STAR more than a month ago. She has given some financial assistance to the family and has been making efforts to raise money for the surgery.

She plans to donate the proceeds of a "Save a Life Party" that was held on Saturday, March 30, 2004 at Memories Lounge in The Bronx to Marquez's mother to help offset the cost of his surgery.