LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR RAISES MONEY FOR HURRICANE BERYL VICTIMS – SHE HAS NEVER MET!

Founder of Wiltshire and Swindon’s leading performance arts company for young people, Revolution Performing Arts, Fi Da Silva Adams is extending a hand to an online friend in dire straits thanks to Hurricane Beryl.

Fi Da Silva Adams, who lives in Swindon, met Jacqui Rose on Facebook a few years ago, and while COVID-19 put paid to initial plans to meet in person, their friendship went from strength to strength. So, when Jacqui’s home – a boat on the small Caribbean island of Carriacou – was devastated by Hurricane Beryl on 1 July, Fi immediately launched a GoFundMe to help out.

According to data from NASA, the Category 5 storm smashed into the island early on 1 July, with winds reaching 150mph (240km/hr). Very quickly pretty much every structure on the island was damaged in some way, meaning the storm has affected every single resident in some way.

Furthermore, rough seas prevented immediate rescue and assistance. Almost all vegetation has been destroyed and seven people killed, according to the Prime Minister of Grenada. He added in an interview with the Independent: “We have to rebuild from the ground up.”

For Fi, there was no question that she wanted to help Jacqui as much as possible. She said: “While we’ve never met in person, Jacqui has become a dear friend. She is always so positive and uplifting and inspiring.”

After learning that Jacqui had not only lost her home but also her business, Fi launched the GoFundMe with an initial target of £1,000. She said: “Jacqui has given so much to others around the world with her online presence helping her community and all those less fortunate than her.

“And while there are corporate and governmental aid agencies on the island, myself and a group of online friends wanted to reach out and raise money specifically for a new generator to help Jacqui and her partner Freddie get back on their feet and live back in their home and business. Jacqui is actually missing the birth of her grandchild in the UK and still remains positive and focussed on helping as many people as she can on the island repair and rebuild.”

The initial GoFundMe target was quickly smashed and the total raised now stands at £2,870.

Fi added: “I’m delighted that Jacqui can now get an even bigger generator and, in true ‘Jacqui style’ she is sharing it with her community to help them also recover their businesses and homes. This woman never ceases to amaze me. Even in the toughest of times, she still is always giving.”

More information about Revolution Performing Arts can be found here https://revolutionpa.co.uk/