Ladies dressed in elegant gowns and men in dapper suits gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Sunrise Florida, where the Caribbean American Medical Organization (CAMEO) recently celebrated its Annual Fundraising Banquet.

The event brought to the fore the exceptional work of CAMEO which has for 13 years, been touching many lives through their medical missions with the efforts and contributions of volunteers.

CAMEO has over the years made numerous mission trips to Jamaica, Belize and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. According to Dr. David Keen, Medical Director of CAMEO, “One of the reasons we go is to change lives – treat the bodies and the minds of the people.”

Dr. Keen invited volunteers to stand and dubbed them heroes citing that their role in the mission trips were extremely important, especially since those who volunteer not only gave of their time but their money – volunteers have to pay their own way. Many who have made the trips say they it felt very rewarding, and they not only gave of themselves, but that they received the blessings on the people they helped.

One of CAMEO’s programs is the reading glasses program, which has essentially provided the gift of sight to many people who have otherwise been unable to read.

Dr. Keen spoke passionately about Davin Richards, a child from St. Vincent and the Grenadines who was abandoned because he was born handicapped. Richards’ legs were not properly developed and he had never been able to walk. The mission set out to correct this handicap and with the donation of $18,000 worth of prosthesis, a dedicated medical team and the work of volunteers and Davin’s tenacity, his dream of walking in a pair of Nikes shoes came through.

Jamaican Children’s Heart Fund’s Gwen Grant, (director and team coordinator) and Ivette Duncan (surgical nurse) said they were happy to forge a partnership with CAMEO and donated 15 cases of medical supplies to that end.

President, Yvonne Keen told CNWeekly News they had a number of volunteers that go with them each trip, but said they are still in need of more sponsorship. She said, “If we have grants, more funding we can do more. There is a lot of work out there to be done. We need more doctors to offer their voluntary service.”

- Sonia Morgan