He is an icon for the physically and mentally challenged in Belize. And though he is blind, Hector Hoare has truly triumphed over his adversity and successfully defied it. But while Hoare has always been helping, tonight he needs your help, big time. The 48 year old recently suffered two serious heart attacks and his lung also collapsed.
He has been hospitalized at the Medical Associates Hospital Since last week but he is about to be kicked out because his medical bill there is now at $21,000. His colleagues at the Stella Maris School where he teaches are collecting funds to help him pay the mounting bill. Golda Swift says that it is the least we as a community can do for a man who has already done so much.
Golda Swift, Stella Maris School
"His lungs collapsed and then he had breathing difficulties because of that. He also had two severe heart attacks and he has been going through the recovery stage from since then. We would like to say thanks to the Medical Associates for trying to assist Mr. Hoare in going through this time and his family.
But at the same time we have a commitment to him to try to pay his expenses because he does not have that money. So we are calling on the public at large to help him in this because he is an excellent teacher.
He is blind. If people don't know Mr. Hoare he is blind and he has been teaching for eighteen years and during this time he has given a lot of support to children with special needs, to teachers like myself who went there as a younger teacher. So he has provided a lot for us. He is a support person.
You can go to him and talk to him and he will be there for you so we are standing behind him now and we are asking the public if they can assist in whatever ways. They can get in contact with the school, with the principal, the vice-principal, and donate whatever monies that they have to assist in this cause."
A fundraising barbecue will be held on Saturday at the Constitution Park from 9 am to 4 pm. Anyone interested in helping financially can contact the Stella Maris School at 224-4564. It is of note that Hoare turned to the Social Security Board for help but they only gave him $800.
