TOUCH A TRACTOR...almost here!

With the Touch A Tractor fundraiser coming up in a matter of days, the spare time in the past several days have been spent running around with the event planning staff, trying to iron out the last few details. Can't believe that at one point I thought about attempting to organize this myself.....would've been a TREMENDOUS failure --(If i hadn't mentioned it before, HUGE thanks for Imagine PR Consulting and The Robar Center). But everything looks like its coming together and has gotten some media coverage from Yahoo Sports, Pros Give Back, The Spec, Blogskee Wee Wee, Terra @ Home, and heading to CHCH Morning News Live at 7:50am and finishing with CHML Radio interview at 11:40am. Hoping that this all turns into a great turn out for the event and a lot of money raised for GHTK. 

For anyone interested (everyone?), Tickets can be bought at the gates Sunday morning ($10). Come out and enjoy all the mega machines, plus motorcycle collections, cruisers, firetruck, ambulance, race car, monster truck...basically any toy you had as a kid, will be there sunday, only life sized! Not to mention BBQing, an Ice-Cream truck, facepainting, music and of course Ticats Players and Cheerleaders. Should be a great day, rain or shine. Can't wait to see everyone out!

Touch-A-Tractor

With the September 15th Guyana Help The Kids fundraising dinner a great success, now we're looking forward to and excited about the September 30th Touch A Tractor event in Hamilton. Stop in, show your support, and have a blast at the Robar Centre at 600 Nebo Road in Hamilton from 10am-4pm! All the info need is here or on the Facebook Event Page. Hope to see everyone out!

UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS!

Hey everyone. Definitely been way too long since my last post as the 2012 CFL season picked up. But be sure work on the GHTK Pediatric Ward project hasn't stopped.

The date and location for the Annual Guyana Help The Kids Dinner Fundraiser is set and tickets ready to be sold. The dinner and dance is always a hit. Here's the flyer with all the necessary information.

        In addition to the Annual GHTK Fundraiser, a second fundraiser is to be held in Hamilton on September 30th. I had an idea to organize a fundraiser but since fundraising doesn't generally take place on a football field, it's safe to say it wasn't my forte. So I'll start by saying thanks to Susan Edwards and THE ROBAR CENTRE. I met Susan at a Ticat Kickoff dinner and from the moment I mentioned GHTK to Susan, she jumped at the idea at helping with a fundraiser. Not only is she providing the facility for the event, but The Robar Centre has volunteered staff for the event. In addition to the Robar Centre I gotta give a HUGE thanks to IMAGINE PR CONSULTING for helping (helping = organizing the entire thing and giving me the credit) organize this event and doing a great job at that. Definitely would've been lost on this event without them volunteering their services for a cause that they believe in.

      The event will be similar to other Touch-a-Truck events for kids and the family. From Bulldozers to Backhoes, from Packers to Excavators. Kids (of all ages) can look at, touch and climb on over 20 pieces of the heavy machinery used at The Robar Centre. There will also be a Helicopter, Firetruck and Motorcycle Section for observation. All this in addition to the BBQ and Face Painting makes for a fun filled day for the kids and family. Professional Racecar Driver Ashley McCalmont will also be there with her racecar for pictures and autographs. And of course we'll be joined by Players and Cheerleaders from the Hamilton Ticats. It's all set to be a great day. Hope to see everyone there to support this great cause!

First Fundraising Dinner

Just a brief update. The first fundraising dinner, which was on April 22 at the Worker's Arts & Heritage Centre in Hamilton, was a success. A great success. GTHK would like to thank everyone that took the time to come out and support the cause (and graciously applauded as they suffered through my speech).

Thankfully, guests also got a chance to hear from the founder and driving force behind GHTK Dr. Singh and heard all the background information from Dr. Brian Cameron (the brains of the whole operation).

All the proceeds of the event of course went to Guyana Help The Kids and the project to fund the new Pediatric Ward of Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation.

This was the first of a few fundraising events that will all hopefully be bigger and and even more successful. It was a good start but so much more capital needs to be raised. Please remember to donate at the GHTK Website where a full tax receipt can be issued. Or contact me at rrhinds34@gmail.com for information. First step of many. Many more to go!

ps. Big Thanks to Pat Cameron for doing a great job organizing the event. Wouldn't have happened without her!

Hey Everyone.

Just an update to for the first and a smaller GHTK fundraising dinner  set to take place April 22, 2012 at the Workers Arts Heritage Centre (51 Stuart Street, Hamilton). The evening will include a buffet dinner as well as presentation from myself and Dr. Narendra Singh. Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased beforehand. All proceeds of course going to GHTK. This is only the first fundraising effort with bigger ones to come. Hope you can make it.

If not. There's going to be bigger fundraising dinners to come. 

BIG. HUGE THANKS to Drew Edwards and The Hamilton Spectator for providing the forum to write about my experience in Guyana and helping get the word out! And Thanks again to Drew for letting me blow on his own blog The Scratching Post. Can't thanks them enough for their help!!

Any questions please shoot me me an email at 

rrhinds34@gmail.com or visit 

www.guyanahelpthekids.com

Here's the second video blog while in Georgetown. Just as busy a day.

ps...really wish I could change the image that pops up for this video...


Couple shots of today in the Peds Ward.

First Video blog while in Georgetown, Guyana.

My father, Dr. Nar Singh, President Donald Ramotar, myself.

Meeting with Dr. Madan Rambaran, Dr Singh

The revamped NICU

Half of the current Pediatric Ward.

Things Fall Into Place

As the 14^th approaches, getting on that plane pretty much the only thing I’m thinking about. I admit, after the setback we took, I’d grown a little uncertain that all that was needed to be done would be accomplished without Dr. Cameron and Julia to facilitate. But these things have a way of working themselves out. Alternate plans were made to maximize this trip as it relates to figuring out how a 3^rd year CFLer can help a public hospital in Guyana. The itinerary became a little clearer as meetings were set and various arrangements are made. After the setback, things were starting to fall into place. In addition, the Ticats provided a bag of goodies for the kids that I’ll get a chance to visit at Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation. The organization has been very supportive of the whole project that really initially had nothing to do with them. But they’ve been gladly helpful with connections and Ticats gear for the kids. So a big thanks to them. So with everything in place there’s not much to say except wish us luck. After the work is done down there, then the real work starts up here.

Setbacks…

The project took a rather significant hit last week when we found out that two of the major parties involved in the project won’t be joining us on the trip to Guyana. For personal reasons that are unavoidable, Dr. Brian Cameron and Julia Pemberton will not be joining us. Aside from the personal reasons I wish they could go (they’re both amazing people that are ALWAYS a pleasure to be around), they hold significant value to the trip.

Dr. Cameron has been to Guyana on numerous occasions, the most recent of which he taught an ESS (Essential Surgical Skills) course to 28 medical interns and was returning to follow up. In addition, Dr. Cameron and Julia were to host a presentation and discussion on the topic of Trauma, which would include training, research, trauma registry and system development. A major part of the discussion would be to understand what the needs, challenges were and to asses possible solutions and how we fit into that picture.  In addition to this, there were also several meetings with various officials that both Dr. Cameron and Julia were to head or be a part of. It’s a huge blow to this particular March trip. As my supervisor, I’ve known Julia the longest. She’s always been nothing but understanding and helpful and one can always count on her to get things done. Disappointing that she and Dr. Cameron wont be able to make it in March. They will return to Guyana to complete what they’d planned to do, but they will definitely be missed on this trip.

What will still be taking place is the development of the Pediatrics Residency program (http://www.guyanapediatrics.com) that has already commenced by Dr. Nar Singh and Dr. Andrea Hunter in their previous work in Guyana. The aim of the residency program is to better train Pediatricians to allow for optimal care for children in Guyana. This should ensure that the effect had on this sector of health care is long lasting. Meetings with Hospital officials and pediatric residents will also be held. All in an effort to better understand the needs. And where do I fit in? Unfortunately, the only thing I’m qualified to teach is how to back-peddle or run a Cover 3 defense. But I will be involved in the meetings and, along with Dr. Singh, speak on behalf of the Guyana Help The Kids (http://www.guyanahelpthekids.com) and this project. Aside from visiting the places that hold sentimental value, I’ll get a chance to see the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and current Pediatric Ward of Guyana Public Hospital Cooperation where I’ll be able to get a first hand look at where help is needed specifically.

Hard to believe that only 3 months ago I was hearing about this idea that seemed like this overwhelmingly daunting task, and in a weeks time we’ll be on a plane for the first major step. 

These are old blogs that were initially posted on Drew Edward's blog The Scratching Post.

Aaaaand It Get’s Real

First off I want to give a big thanks to Drew Edwards for allowing me to invade his blog periodically for the next couple weeks leading up to and during the trip to Guyana. It’ll undoubtedly be less humorous than a regular entry from Drew, but that’s mainly because the issue is less of a humorous nature. Also because Drew told me I can’t be funnier than he is on his own blog.

With less than a month to go before we hop on a plane and much still to do, myself, Dr. Nar Singh (http://www.guyanahelpthekids.com), Dr. Brian Cameron, Dr. Andrea Hunter and Ms. Julia Pemberton met to work out some details around the trip. Upon coming to the meeting there had been a lot discussed, but not much solidification of plans. By the end of the meeting we had our travel arrangements, planned our ideal media coverage, and had an itinerary. Part of that itinerary included the possibility of meeting the Prime Minister of Guyana. I pretty much blacked out for a good 45s after Dr. Singh mentioned that as a possibility – and I mean that. I really have zero recollection of what was said during the 45s after it was mentioned. My mind was just going. Not that I know him or posses a particular affection for politicians, but just the idea of meeting the leader of a country, much less my country of origin, especially for a reason that could affect Guyana in a positive way…I imagine it’s going to be pretty surreal.

By the end of the meeting I realized I was the only one who hadn’t booked his ticket yet, and apparently tickets were scarce. That night I booked the last two seats on the plane (thank God) and then it all kinda hit me “this is really ‘bout to happen.” Not to say that I ever thought the project was going to fall apart, but just the reality of the situation hit. I’ve talked about going back to Guyana, since…..since I left, really. But never had the thought ever become reality – and now, it had. I’m really going to get a chance to see my old city, my old schools, my old neighborhood, my old house. I’ll be seeing all that for the first time in almost 18 years. I’ll get a chance to sharpen all those fuzzy memories of an 8 year old. I’m like the most nostalgic person I know and maybe that’s why just thinking ‘bout going back carries such weight. But, I called my dad and told him the tickets were booked. Now my dad’s not exactly the ‘jump for joy’ type, but I could almost hear him smiling on the other end of the phone.  

The excitement for this trip is building. It’s a blessing that I’m involved with this project.

Blogging Elsewhere

For the next few weeks leading up to the trip to Guyana, Drew Edwards from The Hamilton Spectator has graciously offered to post my blogs on his blog The Scratching Post. Can't thank Drew enough for this as Drew's blog gets around 10,000 views. The first and second blog is already up. Hopefully this will help get the word out even more. Can't tell y'all how much we appreciate all the support the support the cause has been receiving. Don't forget to check out the Guyana Help The Kids Website where information can be found and donations can be made. Thanks again.

Ryan Hinds

rrhinds34@gmail.com

First Blog – Welcome to ‘Guyana Help The Kids’

I’ve never done one of these before so I’ll ask everyone to bear with me as I get the hang of this.  This blog will basically be used to provide updates and information on a project that I’m a part of, as well as my thoughts and feelings as we undertake this. Please feel free to comment/ask questions.

Me

If you’ve made it to this blog then I’ll assume you know who I am (Ryan Hinds) and what I do (#34 Hamilton Tiger-Cats). What might be less known is that, though I am Canadian, I was born in Georgetown, Guyana. Guyana has a population of 750,000 and has only 2 certified Pediatricians, both of whom work in the private sector. There are 6 pediatricians of Guyanese descent practicing in Toronto. Its’ infant mortality rate, though improving, is still higher than that of most Caribbean Islands.

When I was 8 my parents moved our family from Georgetown to Toronto to provide a better life and opportunities for their kids. Though we left Guyana when I was only 8, I remember everything about this neighborhood vividly. 

<--Current pic of my old house.

How the Project Was Born

Last November, while interning at McMaster Children’s Hospital, I was approached by my supervisor Julia Pemberton and Dr. Brian Cameron (who has done extensive work in Guyana) about a project that would aim to raise capital costs to possibly construct and supply equipment for the Pediatric ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Since my family left Guyana in ’94, I’ve always wanted to but never been able to return. I jumped at the opportunity to return to my country of origin and give back in, what could be, a very powerful way.

This project is partnered with the non-profit organization Guyana Help The Kids (GHTK). GTHK and its’ founder, Dr. Nar Singh (Guyanese born), is aimed at improving the health of this most vulnerable sector of Guyana (www.guyanahelpthekids.com). 

GHTK has done extensive of work in Guyana, particularly in the NICU.

Exactly a month from now, myself, Dr. Cameron, Dr. Singh, Dr. Andrea Hunter, and Ms. Julia Pemberton, will return to Guyana where we will be accompanied by a videographer to document the trip. The trip will consist of executive meetings with various Guyanese official, visiting the GPHC to assess the needs first hand, and revisiting some places from my childhood (tear-jerkers). I’m also bringing my father with me as he’s yet to return to the country he left almost 18 years ago.

How Do We Actually Raise Money for the Cause

In addition to donations through the GHTK website (www.guyanahelpthekids.com), there will be a couple fundraising events capped off by a dinner (dates TBA). Info on these events will come after the initial trip to Guyana.

I can’t express how much this trip means to me and how blessed I am that playing in the CFL as a Hamilton Tiger-Cat has opened this door to, hopefully, bring the attention needed to take a step in helping the children of Guyana get the care they desperately need. As an Ambassador of GHTK, and a former resident of Georgetown, this would be the ultimate form of giving back and I hope you can help along the process.