An appeal to help a family whose home was destroyed in a blaze earlier this month has been launched.Now, the Jamaican Association is to hold a fundraiser to raise cash for the Hayward family, who lost almost everything after fire ravaged their home in Union Street, Pembroke.A total of seven people, including Omar Hayward — a well-known para-sportsman who has represented the island overseas — lived in the house until the December 7 disaster.Roxanne Christopher, a former president of the Jamaican Association, said: “Unfortunately, their home got burnt down, their home was devastated and many of us cannot relate to having lost everything in a fire.“It’s a tragedy.”She added: “This family has lost everything. The home is destroyed, it’s not habitable.“Remember the young man is severely disabled, he cannot go back there, it’s unsafe.“If they were to go back, everyone’s life would be at risk.”Ms Christopher added that the family was “Jamaican-born, but they are residents and nationals of Bermuda”.She said: “They have contributed for decades in this community.“Omar, the son, who is wheelchair-bound, had a lot of support from Bermuda. He has given the best that he can.“He is kind of a fixture in the Reid Street community.”The Bermuda Housing Corporation found temporary accommodation for the family after the fire.Mr Hayward, who has cerebral palsy, has represented Bermuda in boccia — a ball game similar to bowls.He also featured in a YouTube video created in 2012 to help raise funds when he needed a new wheelchair.It is understood Mr Hayward lived at the home with his mother, Bridget, his two brothers, a sister-in-law and two children.Ms Hayward said yesterday that some of the family were in the house when the fire started.She added: “I wasn’t at home, I came home and saw the fire blazing.”It is understood no one was hurt in the incident.Ms Christopher said: “Bermuda is a very giving community, we are asking the community to support this family at this time.“Many of us can’t relate, until it happens to you.“The Jamaican Association is hosting a fundraiser this week Sunday at the Liberty Theatre at 5pm. “We’re going to be showing the movie Sprinter and all proceeds will be going to the Hayward family.”Ms Christopher added that Jason Hayward, the new Progressive Labour Party MP for Pembroke Central, had been “a great help”.She also highlighted the BHC’s assistance and thanked the Liberty Theatre for the use of its cinema.Mr Hayward, who is no relation to the family, said yesterday: “Once I was informed, I went to the scene of the fire to investigate how severe it was.“When I reached the house it was completely destroyed and the family were sitting on the side of the road.” He added: “The next step was to try to identify somewhere for the family to go.“They didn’t have any immediate place to go via relatives and so I was able to assist in finding accommodations for the weekend, until BHC kicked in.”Ms Hayward said the family was housed together and the accommodation was “very suitable” for Omar.She added: “I’m very pleased with everything that the community is doing, all jumping in to help us.“I lost everything. I’m just bearing it one day at a time.”Ms Hayward said that relatives, the Jamaican Association, Major Barrett Dill, the BHC general manager, and Jason Hayward had all provided assistance.The MP said that he helped to provide the family with food and clothes.He added: “I couldn’t sleep properly at night knowing that somebody else’s primary needs weren’t met.”The MP said that a portion of donations collected at the PLP’s Christmas party would also be directed to help the family and appealed for the public to support the Jamaican Association fundraiser.Sprinter is about a promising Jamaican track-and-field athlete who hopes his journey will take him to the US so that he can reunite with his mother, but that is hampered by problems in his home life. UPDATE: This article was updated to reflect that Ms Christopher is a former president of the Jamaican Association.