City students help Stann Creek burn victim

A little boy burned in an accident in Buena Vista Village is tonight undergoing treatment in the United States. But while doctors both here and in Texas are doing all they can for him, so are some children he has never even met. Today I visited a school in Belize City where the students and teachers did more than just pity Darwin Cruz when they saw his pain and bravery on T.V.

Yvette Burks, Coordinator, Rotary Gift of Life
?Darwin has done several surgeries since he went to the States. He is responding extremely well. They are very optimistic that he will have a full recovery of course, but also that his physical conditions, the way he looks will improve significantly.?

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Nine year old Darwin Cruz was burned over seventy percent of his body after a gasoline container exploded while he was using the fuel to destroy an ant nest. Two weeks ago, Cruz was air ambulanced to Galveston, Texas where he remains hospitalised at the Shriners Burn Centre. The treatment, however, is very expensive and most burn victims? families cannot afford the services that must be done to save their loved ones lives. Many patients rely on the good will of organisations such as the Rotary Gift of Life to secure the medical care.

Yvette Burks
?There have been of course many, many many burn accidents in Belize. The child who left right now is the nineteenth child that I have personally been involved with sending to Galveston for assistance.?

The financial burden is overwhelming as bills can reach as high as half a million dollars. Coordinator for the Rotary Gift of Life, Yvette Burks, says they rely mostly on kind donations to help the children get the help they need.

Yvette Burks
?It?s so important for all of us as human beings to stop, count our blessings, because all of us are blessed in various ways and you know stop concentrating on the bad things in our lives and I think doing this for the children is a life?s lesson.?

Since the Cruz story was aired on March thirteenth, there has been a tremendous outpour of support. Today?s donation however was very special because the money was raised by the staff and students of Saint Joseph Primary School. Principal Glorycela Torres says it took them only four days to collect over two thousand dollars.

Glorycela Torres, Principal, St. Joseph Primary School
?We sent notes to the parents and we explained to them what it was all about and the children came forward with the money, very quickly and I was amazed. Our parents are very supportive of the school in whatever we do they are there for us.?

Yvette Burks
?Really the generosity of the children?I noticed after I came here this morning children were still coming up. There was one little boy who said I want to give one extra five dollars, I done give Miss, but I want give one more five dollars. I mean that is awesome.?

It is hoped that other schools, organisations, and the business community would make similar donations because one day someone you know may be desperately in need of the care.

Burks says a number of businesses have donated generously to the Burn Victim Mercy Fund. All those who have made pledges are reminded to please make their donations as soon as possible. If you would like to assist, contact Yvette Burks at telephone number 223-3292.