Caribbean-style music filled city hall on Feb. 8 as the Soul Moves Ottawa – Get Fit and Fight Ebola event was held to raise funds for the fight against Ebola in Africa.
This fundraiser was one of many events happening in Ottawa during Black History Month.
“From my perspective, the empathy towards Ebola is not something that is unique only to members of the black community; it is something that is shared worldwide by many people,” said Resa Solomon-St. Lewis, founder and co-organizer of the event. “It seemed like it would be very relevant for us to reflect on it during Black History Month. It’s an opportunity for everybody to make a positive impact.”
All the proceeds from the event went to Médicins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, with the priority to help prevent and treat Ebola in West Africa.
MSF has eight centres across West Africa to treat Ebola. According to their website, since the outbreak began they have admitted more than 8,000 patients with almost 5,000 of them being confirmed as having Ebola. More than 2,300 of these patients have survived.
The 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was the largest one in history according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The centre’s website reports that over 9,000 people have died from the disease and there are over 22,000 confirmed cases.
Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by an infection from the Ebola virus. With no vaccine available for the disease, a person’s survival is based on their immune system and the care they receive.
“Ebola is a devastating disease . . . we are fighting back to support the doctors on the ground,” said Fay Campbell, area governor of Rotary District 7040 and co-sponsor of the event.
Rotary District 7040 is an Ottawa-based committee that works to fight disease and provide aid for other challenges faced in communities globally. This month, a group of volunteers will be traveling to India to immunize children against polio.
Embracing an Afro-Caribbean theme, the Soul Moves Ottawa fundraiser offered a number of dance/fitness workshops, music and a chef-prepared meal. To take part in either the workshops or the buffet, participants were asked to contribute $16 towards the fundraising effort to buy a ticket
“Because we’re looking at raising funds for Ebola in West Africa, I thought it would be very interesting to do an event that is actually relevant in a thematic way,” said St. Lewis. “Because Ebola is a health-related issue, this is why we’re looking at get moving, get fit and get healthy in terms of the activities for participants.”
One of the dance workshops, Caribbean Fit Fete, was instructed by Tarrah Mauricette.
“My role in the event is that I will be instructing participants of the fundraiser to join me in getting fit island-style,” said Mauricette. “My style of fitness is to the music of the Caribbean.”
As a long-term friend of St. Lewis, she was on board to participate in the event from the start because she thinks it’s important to maintain awareness about the crisis of Ebola.
“I think for the most part it feels like the crisis of Ebola that is taking place has somewhat simmered down,” she says, “so this is an effort to continue to keep the awareness at the forefront and to raise funds for Doctors without Borders so that they can do their work in order to eradicate Ebola.”.
There were also a number of artisans selling unique arts and crafts, such as clothing and pillows made from traditional African fabrics, African jewellery and artisan soaps.
According to St. Lewis, without the effort and help of their many sponsors, the event would never have been as successful as it was. “Everybody that is participating in the event is making it a success and helping us to generate those funds,” she said.
The fundraiser did not reach its goal of $2,500, but St. Lewis is hopeful they will reach it by the month’s end through their online donor page.