Fundraisers have handed over $15,000 to three young women to help with the cost of their medical care.

Gaynell Hayward-Caesar, of the 3D (three diverse, delivered and determined women) Committee, said that the fundraising Gospel Explosion event came out of a desire to assist Aquilla Salaam, Keleé Darrell and Kevina Santucci, all women under 30 who are suffering from sickle cell anaemia, lupus and cancer respectively.

“The event was a resounding success. It was well attended and people are still talking about it,” Mrs Hayward-Caesar told The Royal Gazette.

“One gentleman said that he had never seen anything like it because it was such a cross-section of denominations.

“It went long, and usually when things go long people start to get up and leave, but that didn’t happen.

“We aim to make a difference at a time when our community remains financially strapped, but even more so when faced with children who are challenged with serious health conditions.”

Mrs Hayward-Caesar said the event in May fell short of its “overly ambitious” fundraising goals, but that more than 500 people packed into the Heritage Worship Centre to take part, raising enough to provide each of the three selected patients with $5,000 towards their medical expenses, and to make a donation to the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association.

“People are benefiting from this,” she said. “All of the girls are just very appreciative that the Bermuda community rallied together around them.”

She said many people had already asked about the possibility of follow-up events.

“It may happen again at the next May 24 weekend,” she said. “I would like to see a children’s event, with children participating with the aim of helping other children with their medical care.”

Ms Salaam, who was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia when she was 2, has since encountered a number of issues related to the condition and recently went overseas for a bone-marrow transplant.

Mrs Hayward-Caesar said her treatment was going very well, and that Ms Salaam was hoping to return to the Island in December.

Ms Darrell, meanwhile, is suffering from lupus and is waiting for a kidney transplant. She is due to fly overseas in November for her regular consultation and, despite her condition, is still working to be certified as a pharmacy technician.

The third recipient, Ms Santucci, is battling spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Mrs Hayward-Caesar said Ms Santucci was in high spirits and was hoping to return to Bermuda.

In the meantime, she reaches out to others through her writing while she continues treatment.