A man whose godson has was airlifted to Lahey Clinic in Boston last week after suffering neck injuries from a fall, is to donate proceeds from an event he is organising to help the family with medical expenses.

David Tucker, a mixologist at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, hopes to raise money for Chyone Harris, 22, the son of his best friend Frankie, to help cover costs of at least two operations he has had to undergo.

Mr Tucker had already invited to the Island two internationally recognised speakers on African and African American history, culture, civilisation and religion and decided to make their two-day presentation, titled “Awakening the African Conscious Mind”, into a fundraising event after hearing news of his godson.

He told The Royal Gazette: “Chyone had just moved into a new place, he was going up the stairs and it was dark. He missed a couple of steps, lost his balance and went over the balcony. They air ambulanced him at 2am on Sunday morning.

“They took him to Lahey and they did the first operation immediately. If the injury was four inches to the side he could have totally broken his back.

“He is a very bright little ‘bye’ — of course a Berkeleyite. He was a pupil of Suzette Harvey [United Dance Productions] and he did hip hop, classical, all kinds of dancing.

“When I heard about it I said the funds that I could accumulate from the event would go to him to get him together financially.

“He was working at Cambridge Beaches — he has a very good personality, a lot of charm in the business. He liked what he was doing.

“We would like to ask the public and even any exempt companies to come to the fundraiser or donate funds for help. Those bills can be sky high — just getting him flown there.”

The speakers at the fundraising event are historian and lecturer Dr Ashra Kwesi and his wife Merira, a researcher in African culture.

“They are to give a motivational talk about Africa’s history and pioneers aimed at inspiring pride in Bermuda’s young, black community.

He said: “I want to educate people about their history because our history is not really taught in schools.

“My purpose is to help educate the public.”

The fundraising event takes place at Liberty Theatre on May 2 and 3 from 10am to 2:30pm.

Tickets are $20 and available from People’s Pharmacy, the Metaphysical Bookstore, Platinum Entertainment and Caesar’s Pharmacy. Proceeds from the event will go towards Chyone’s medical expenses. For more information call 335-3031 or visit www.kemetnu.com.