Marcella de Martin’s Billy 4 Kids celebrates its third year of partnership with Liberty Children’s Home in Belize
New York, New York, May 26th, 2023.
Billy Lerner, his wife Marcella De Martin, and the Billy4Kids foundation mark their third year of supporting the Liberty Children's Home in Belize. Since their first visit in 2019, Marcella, Billy, and co-founder of the foundation, Alexson Roy, have provided hundreds of shoes to the Liberty Children’s Home in the fight against parasitic disease.
The Liberty Children’s Home in Belize
Non-profit organization Billy4kids continues to support the Liberty Children’s Home through the supply of hundreds of canvas shoes over the past three years. With a lack of infrastructure and access to adequate footwear, the children housed here are often barefoot and vulnerable to parasitic disease contracted from the soil and dirt pavements. Hookworm, the most prevalent parasitic disease in Belize, impacts 55% of the population followed by roundworm (30%), both of which can lead to respiratory and gastrointestinal problems (Aimpun and Hshieh, 2004). Newly appointed as the ambassador of Billy4Kids, Marcella De Martin has been eminent in ensuring the foundation continues their partnership with the children’s home, providing them with shoes and protection against soil borne infections.
Beginning in February 2019, the Billy4Kids foundation has repeatedly donated shoes to the Ladyville region of Belize. This donation not only helps in preventing parasitic disease but also aids in impeding associated illnesses such as skin rashes, abdominal pain, and anaemia. It in turn, enables the children to engage in more fun activities without the harsh barefoot exposure to the soil. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Marcella De Martin ensured that the Billy4Kids foundation continued their supply of shoes to the children's home through both 2021 and 2022. In their most recent visit to Belize, the Billy4Kids foundation donated over 200 pairs of shoes to the Liberty Children’s Home, having a huge impact on the health and lives of these children.
Founded in 2005, the Liberty Children's home is a purpose-built sanctuary, housing over forty children who have been orphaned or have experienced neglect and abuse. The home provides a safe place for these children, who otherwise are vulnerable to becoming involved in drugs, violence, and prostitution. With almost 50% of all children in Belize living in poverty (UNICEF and The Statistics Institute of Belize, 2017) many have little alternative but to engage in these activities to supply their basic needs. Located in Ladyville Belize, the Liberty Children’s Home aims to reduce the number of children forced into this life by providing them with shelter, clothing, food, and access to education.
To date, Marcella De Martin and the Billy4Kids foundation have donated hundreds of shoes to the Liberty Children’s Home, aiding in the prevention of soil borne parasitic diseases. Adequate shoes donated by the foundation have made a tremendous impact on the lives of the children of the Liberty Children’s Home.
Marcella De Martin, wife of Billy Lerner
Sources:
Aimpun P, Hshieh P. (2004) Survey for intestinal parasites in Belize, Central America. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health.
UNICEF & The Statistics Institute of Belize. (2017) ‘BELIZE Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2015 Key Findings August, 2016’. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/belize/sites/unicef.org.belize/files/2019-09/MICS_Belize_Booklet_v3_Childfriendly_version.pdf
Published in partnership with Billy 4 Kids Inc
Email: info@billy4kids.org www.https://billy4kids.org/ 1-855-472-7569
SOURCE Billy4Kids Inc.