Mom pitches foundation in memory of drowned 12-y-o

WESTERN BUREAU:

A foundation to honour the memory of Jennel Walters, a 12-year-old girl who died tragically during flood rains on Tuesday, will be launched later this year.

Christine Gilbert, the mother of the late seventh-grader at Montego Bay High School, announced her intention to set up the charity on Thursday during a visit from Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

She said the foundation will focus on helping the nation’s less fortunate citizens in education and healthcare.

Jennel died on Tuesday after the car in which she was travelling with her grandparents and an aunt was washed into the Montego River during torrential rains. Her body was recovered near the cruise ship pier later that day.

Her grandmother, 68-year-old Beryl Walters, who is still missing, has been feared dead.

Her grandfather, who was driving the vehicle, and aunt were rescued.

Gilbert, who tried to hold back tears as she mourned the loss of her daughter, said Jennel was a loving person who, like her, always looked out for others and harboured thoughts of setting up a foundation where she could help others.

“I had a name for the foundation then, but since this tragedy, I said I would put it in her name. I had written it down in my diary for a long time now, but I had not yet set a timeline on when it would start,” the grieving mother said.

“This is something my daughter would have liked. She was also caring for people and wanted to grow up living her life helping not just her family but those in need, especially the children and the elderly,” she continued, adding that she wants the foundation to also be able to offer scholarships.

While a date has not been settled on for Jennel’s funeral, Gilbert, a self-employed accountant, said that it is likely that the Jennel Walters Foundation will take place during the service.

“It would be the perfect time to launch it, but let’s see what happens,” she said. “I don’t know where all the funds are going to come from, but I would love to set up this foundation.”

Meanwhile, Golding said that he, along with other senior members of the People’s National Party (PNP), would be assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.

“We will be considering what we can do and we will be in touch with the family,” said Golding, who was accompanied by Sylvan Reid, the former councillor and now caretaker of the Salt Spring Division, and Kerry Thomas, councillor for the Mount Salem Division, on the visit to the family’s Cornwall Courts home.

Golding said that he was moved by the strength of Gilbert and her family, who, despite their tragic loss, were making plans to help others.

“You are a very caring person to be thinking about that at a time like this,” he told her of the plans to launch a foundation.