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UAE: Carols to help four-year-old with rare disease

Since 2010, Jingles has raised thousands of dirhams for kids with serious illnesses.

A Dubai-based community group named Jingles is all set to sing Christmas carols to raise money for four critically-ill children, including Mohammed Hamza, a four-year-old with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).

The other kids are Egyptian nationals Layan Elsayed, 3, and Basmala Sameh, 7, and Filipina Xander John, 2. All the three children have been diagnosed with leukaemia. A 28-year-old Filipina Jasmine, who suffers from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, will also receive financial aid from the group.

While Jingles has been able to help with funding for treatment of all previous patients, this is the second time the group is launching a support initiative for Hamza.

Jingles, a collective of nearly 75 children and adults, was founded by Indian entrepreneur Rajiv David and wife Jessica David. The group is associated with the Emirates Red Crescent.

The charity identifies children who require financial help to avail of treatment for their illnesses with the backing from their in-house medical team and the Dubai Health Authority. The group also has a permit from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) to raise funds for this purpose.

Since 2010, Jingles has raised thousands of dirhams for kids with serious illnesses. In 2016, the group raised Dh426,000 that went towards the treatment of three critically ill kids.

Ayesha Ibrahim, the head of awareness unit at Emirates Red Crescent, told Khaleej Times: "My association with Jingles began in 2016, where we identified four children with leukaemia and the group was able to raise money for their treatment. This year, we have identified a total of four children that Jingles will raise money for."

Jingles goes carolling once every two years to help raise funds for children suffering from critical diseases.

Sunil Pinto, a Dubai-based IT professional and carol singer, said: "We have grown considerably in numbers since our launch in 2010, when we started with just 20 singers. We dedicate two months towards practice." The group practices every Friday and will officially begin carolling on November 29, said Pinto.

Another singer, 17-year-old Vanessa D’Souza who is a student of Indian High School, said, "I joined Jingles two years ago as my parents are both part of the initiative. Our initiative gives children a chance at survival. Personally, it gives me the satisfaction that I’ve helped someone."

Freelance content writer Pamela Dias said: "I was introduced to Jingles through a common friend. Both my husband and I are carol singers. I feel this is an immense opportunity to give something back to the community."