Reggae Boy and Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey (right) and Suzette Buchanan, CEO of Bellevue Hospital, at the unveiling ceremony for the Leon Bailey Wellness Lounge at Bellevue Hospital yesterday.
Reggae Boy and Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey (right) and Suzette Buchanan, CEO of Bellevue Hospital, at the unveiling ceremony for the Leon Bailey Wellness Lounge at Bellevue Hospital yesterday.
Jamaican international and Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey has pledged his continued support for the Bellevue Hospital yesterday during a visit to the hospital’s facilities.
Bailey was present for the official unveiling of the Leon Bailey Wellness Lounge, named in his honour after his donation of $500,000 last year geared towards the room’s renovation.
Speaking with The Gleaner, Bailey said it was a special visit for him to see the lounge in person and its effect on the lives of the hospital’s patients and their families.
“It’s amazing to see it in person. I’ve seen pictures before but to be here and to actually see it in person is amazing,” he said.
“To actually see what type of room it is and how people can communicate as well, I feel it is very nice. I really like what the space as turned into and I’m very grateful.”
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Bailey explained the partnership with Bellevue and his charitable foundation, the Leon Bailey Foundation, was born from his desire to give back to Jamaica.
He also said helping the psychiatric hospital was a personal matter due to his experience of having a family member who has suffered from mental health issues.
He hopes his partnership with the hospital will continue to grow in the years to come.
“I’m basically just taking it one step at a time. Whatever opportunities I see that I can help in every day, then I will do that. This is important to me because it is something that is personal for me,” Bailey explained.
“I have family who has mental issue problems. I am all about sharing and giving back. That is what brings me joy. A lot of people who are in the spotlight probably don’t understand the importance of trying to give a word of encouragement because they don’t know what it is like and what that word of encouragement can do for somebody’s life,” he continued.
“It’s really just a great feeling to be a part of this and I hope that we can really continue this partnership just to be able to share the love and let people see that there is hope.”
Suzette Buchanan, CEO of Bellevue Hospital, welcomed Bailey’s continued commitment to projects at the hospital and hopes his contributions can inspire others to help where they can.
“We fell honoured to have Leon Bailey as a part of our brand. Brand Bellevue Hospital is authentic and Leon Bailey is an authentic individual. He is not just a global ambassador but he is a national treasure and so is the Bellevue Hospital,” she remarked.
“With Leon Bailey coming on board, we are hoping other persons will see the need to partner with us as a hospital. We are the only psychiatric hospital in Jamaica and said to be one of the leading ones in the English-speaking Caribbean.”
Buchanan was also proud to announce that Bailey has not been their only marquee contributor, with dancehall icon Rodney ‘Bounty Killer’ Price and Suzette Thompson also donating to the project.
gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com