PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, August 6th, 2009 - Seven members of the Turks and Caicos Cultural Group (TUCA) and Ripsaw Band traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to perform at a special benefit for Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS), July 19 – 26. Compassionate Care ALS is a nonprofit organization that offers individualized support to ALS patients, families and caregivers.
Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the south of Cape Cod (in New England), located in the state of Massachusetts, is primarily known as a summer colony accessible only by boat and air, is the playground for the rich and famous.
The group, led by Director of Culture, Mr. David Bowen - was invited to perform at the event by well-known real estate developer Tom “Dilly” Walsh, a Vineyard resident, who also owns a home in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), as he has a passion for TCI culture and ripsaw music. Since contracting ALS a few years ago, Mr. Walsh has been a champion for the cause - putting on benefits and fundraisers to assist other ALS patients and their families.
ALS -Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
The event, which took place at Dilly’s home in the Vineyard’s Chilmark district, was thoroughly supported by the local community and had record numbers coming out to help raise funds for ALS disease.
TUCA and five members of Grand Turk’s Eat Mullets and Play Music Ripsaw Band were the featured performers, treating guests to a real taste of TCI culture - through song, music and dance.
With the ripsaw music reaching a feverous pitch, Dilly, though confined to a wheel chair, is full of life and even showed off his dance moves as he paired up with TUCA dancer Shanika Stubbs for a spin on the floor. Shanika, along with Indera Harris and Bowen performed a medley of TCI folk songs and dances. Later in the program, the group, in participating in a “jam” session with the Vineyards top band, Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, saw the revelers dancing until late in the evening.
One of the main features of the event was the silent and live auction, where all funds collected at the benefit going towards purchasing special equipment for persons with ASL and to also support and assist their families.
The Culture Director said that the trip to Martha’s Vineyard was costly, and were primarily funded by Mr. Walsh and CCALS Founder and Executive Director Ron Hoffman. However, he added that financial assistance was also garnered locally, and he would like to thank Lyndon Gardiner of Air Turks and Caicos; Mark Duriat at The Grace Bay Club; Stan Hartling at The Sands, Edith Cox at the IGA; and Donna & Martin Seim for the assistance they provided.
“Dilly was the consummate host. He welcomed us in to his home, heart and community, and we are thrilled to have exposed the Martha’s Vineyard community to TCI culture,” said Bowen. “I have never met someone who is so positive and full of life. It brings joy to my soul knowing what he is able to do, and we too should do likewise.”
While in Martha’s Vineyard, Mr. Walsh arranged a number of other activities for the group, which included lectures and demonstrations on TCI culture at summer camps, hospitals, senior citizen’s homes and local radio and television appearances.
Mr. Bowen went on to note that he and Mr. Walsh are in the process of planning next year’s event, and they are hopeful that more money will be raised for ALS disease.
For more on Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS), log on to
www.ccals.org.
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