Dubai: Jingles, a group of expats who went around homes singing carols ahead of Christmas in Dubai last month, have raised Dh776,560 in just 16 days to help treat young cancer patients in Dubai.
After presenting the amount to Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) this morning, Jessica David, co-founder of the group, told Gulf News, “We would firstly like to thank God and all those who contributed to another successful season of fundraising for children with leukemia in Dubai. We specially thank Emirates Red Crescent and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department for the licence and permit they issued to us for undertaking this effort. We would also like to thank Gulf News (which first broke the Jingles story in 2011) for their support as always.”
Mohammed Kamal, Executive Fundraising, ERC, told Gulf News: “It is not the first time that Jingles has done this. We thank them for their support over the years. The amount raised will make a huge difference to the young beneficiaries.”
Rajiv David, co-founder, Jingles, said the money raised this time would aid the treatment costs of six children who would hopefully be completely healed of leukemia and live a cancer-free life just like the children who were helped during earlier campaigns.
“There are not many words to describe the gratitude we have for every Jingles member and every single resident of Dubai who donated funds because they believed in making a real difference in the life of a child and giving them a real shot at life. This is what Jingles stands for - wishing to give back to the community and coming together for someone who does not know us personally. Someone who is in need of help to survive, someone grasping for life, someone praying to God.”
This year, Jingles has identified leukemia patients Majdi, 2, who needs Dh454,467.38, Zain, 2.5 years who requires Dh619,196.21, Halina, 3.5 years, who needs Dh262,055 and Ayrton (Dh150,000-Dh200,000) , besides Ehab Amin, 6, diagnosed with Thrombotic Purpura (Dh13,875.96),” Jessica had told Gulf News ahead of the campiagn.
According to her, Jingles chose this cause because children with leukemia have more than a 90 per cent chance of complete recovery and a cancer-free life, only if they are able to complete the entire course of their treatment which can cost anywhere between Dh150,000 and Dh350,000 per child.
Consequently, the group, which has grown from nine members in 2011 to 105 now, sang carols in the houses of friends and family and Corporates over the weekends from November 24 to December 23 to raise funds.
Earlier efforts had set a tall precendent with the group raising Dhs 333,000 in 2014, Dhs 456,000 in 2016 and Dhs 650,000 in 2019. The children that the Jingles have helped so far include Layan, Basmala, Xander, Daujan, Ammar, Islam, Mohammad and Erica.
Jessica said these children are all completely free of cancer today. “They are living just like any child, laughing, learning and loving. Jingles also helped raise funds for a boy diagnosed with HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) which is a rare condition requiring life-long treatment.”
The Jingles group hopes that the new batch of children will also benefit from the treatment and lead a normal life at the earliest.
