Well-wishers donate $100,000 for Malica Hercules surgeries

The Mark Benschop Foundation on Thursday donated $100,000 towards two corrective surgeries for Malica Hercules, the nine-year-old child who was once known as “Baby M”.

The donation came from a section of the overseas arm of the organisation.

Mark Benschop hands over the donation to Malica Hercules while Jerry La Gra looks on.
Mark Benschop hands over the donation to Malica Hercules while Jerry La Gra looks on.

Hercules is trying to raise US$25,000 which will enable her to travel to Toronto, Canada to undergo two reconstructive operations.  She has already undergone six surgeries to correct the cleft lip, damaged palate and dysmorphic (malformed) facial features with which she was born.

These operations have caused significant improvements to her facial structure, but the two that she is about to undergo are expected to bring further improvement.

Head of the Foundation Mark Benschop said that the contribution came from overseas well-wishers. He explained that American businessman Odell Taitt, who recently donated cash and computers to the foundation,  was in Guyana when the child’s plight was highlighted in the local press and upon his return to the USA, he arranged donations from several persons.

Corzetta Hercules, the mother of Malica, was very appreciative of the contribution and pleaded for others to come onboard to assist her daughter. She told the media that her daughter had dreams of becoming a doctor and said that those who  contribute  would in fact be investing in the lives of those that Malica will help in turn.

Meanwhile Jerry La Gra, who was representing Syeada Manbodh, a person who has been co-ordinating support for Malica, also expressed gratitude for the contributions.  He urged other persons to make whatever contributions they could to help raise the remaining US$12,000. La Gra said that the family was looking to raise all the funds by the end of November.

Persons desirous of making a donation could do so at an account set up for Malica at Demerara Bank Limited, No.1159870. The child’s mother Corzetta Hercules could be reached at 690-0160. S.Manbodh can also be reached at 220-7780 or at ssmanbodh@yahoo.com