The Hope Foundation launched The Sherene Hillocks-Hinds Caring for Carers Award during its 25th Anniversary Gala at the Hilton Barbados Resort, on Saturday night. The inaugural award was presented to the late Hope Foundation member’s mother, Urylee Hillocks (middle) and husband, Rommel Hinds. Surrounding them is Maya Wiltshire, Manager – Strategic Sales at C&W Business (left); Sherene’s best friend, Shakida Sealy; and Shelley Weir (right), President of the Hope Foundation.
Hope Foundation makes Sherene’s wish a reality, launches award
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 12:00am
Hope Foundation has paid a fitting tribute to the life of an extraordinary young woman.
On Saturday night, the Foundation launched The Sherene Hillocks-Hinds Caring for Carers Award during its 25th Anniversary Gala, honouring the wish of the dedicated and committed member who passed away on April 26, 2014.
This Award is intended to give credit where credit is due.
It will pay tribute to caregivers for their dedication and commitment to those they help as well as raise awareness about the way in which their unwavering support helps to enrich the lives of those who are ill.
“Sherene was a phenomenal individual,” Shakida Sealy expressed.
“Anyone who knew Sherene could testify to the fact that this young woman, faced with a myriad of challenges, exemplified extraordinary strength, determination and embodied a graceful and selfless attitude,” she stated.
Sealy recalled that her best friend, only weeks before her untimely death, revealed her wish and immediately laid out the framework for this endeavour.
She said that Sherene detailed that the charity or award should be dedicated to those individuals who selflessly devote their time, energy and love to caring for the sick or the elderly.
“Her greatest concern, having observed such individuals caring for herself and others especially while in hospital, was that these individuals – often to their own detriment – neglect themselves, their health, their personal and professional development and their desires, just to make sure that the persons they care for are looked after.”
“Sherene asked me, who looks after them? ...What about the caregiver who sacrificially gives up their employment, unaware of how they are going to meet their financial needs to look after their sick child? Or what about the person who works tirelessly around the clock and doesn’t get a chance to take a vacation or a moment to breathe because they don’t have anyone else to stand-in to do the role that they do? These persons may also spend the very last of their paycheques to make sure that the person they look after can go to the doctor or get medicine,” Sealy recounted.
Sherene also expressed her concern about the amount of time devoted to her and dreamed of honouring the persons who cared for her amidst Lupus flares and asthma attacks, especially her mother Urylee Hillocks and husband, Rommel Hinds. In light of this, the Hope Foundation presented the inaugural award to Sherene’s mother and husband.
“There were two people always by Sherene’s side when she came into Hope Foundation. Her mother was always there and we saw where Sherene got her strength from... As she got older, she got a boyfriend who attended the support group meetings with her and he then became her husband. So it is really an honour to recognise what Sherene saw as her mainstay – the support of a loving mother and a dedicated husband,” expressed Shelley Weir, President of the Hope Foundation.
With an aim of making the award a major event on the Hope Foundation’s calendar as of 2017, Weir is happy to have Sherene’s past employer C&W Business associated with this initiative and is calling on other entities and individuals to please come on board to ensure its sustainability.
The Gala, which was held at the Hilton Barbados Resort, also recognised three corporate entities who have been willingly offering their support to the Hope Foundation over the years – Digicel Barbados, Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) and Roche Central America & Caribbean. (TL)