Shaggy brings Christmas to children's hospital

By:Roxroy McLean and Freddie Pragnell, Gleaner Interns

Orville 'Shaggy' Burrell gives a patient at the Bustamante Hospital for Children a Christmas gift during his annual Christmas treat at the hospital on Monday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

It was a day filled with mixed emotions when Shaggy and other entertainers toured the Bustamante Hospital for Children, giving gifts and a thrilling performance in a mini-concert held on the hospital's lawn.

The treat has been an annual event by Shaggy for the last six years and this year he had the help of Marcia Griffiths, Etana, Queen Ifrica, D Major and Christopher Martin, as well as volunteers from Scotiabank and Digicel.

Shaggy visited the children in bed and personally gave them an eagerly anticipated Christmas present. Yet, his acts of charity were not done for the day. Pre-empting Burrell's arrival, a choir from Scotiabank visited each ward performing Christmas carols. The music lifted the children's spirits, as they seemed to forget any injury or illness in favour of the urge to dance along to the music. A face painter was also visiting the children, his work having a marvellous effect.

Martin said he was touched to see the fathers by their children's side in the absence of their mothers.

"Me like when the father them come out," said Martin, who gave a fantastic performance that left most females in awe.

Shaggy, whose real name is Orville Burrell, was the stand-out performer at the concert. The O Carolina singer was indeed making an impression before his Shaggy and Friends charity show, slated for January 3 at Jamaica House. The proceeds from the show will go towards the hospital.

Extra element

The event this year certainly seemed to overshadow the previous years. The reason for this was explained by Scotiabank's Zöe Welsh.

"Basically this is Shaggy's event," she said. "He has had a relationship with the Bustamante Hospital for Children for about seven years now. Last year we (Scotiabank) partnered with him and made the treat bigger and brought an extra element to the treat. So essentially this is his thing and we are here to help out. This year we have another partner who is Digicel. And really it has nothing to do with us; it has to do with the kids, it is their Christmas and our staff just try to make their Christmas a better one."