On Sunday, May 3, 2026, a community-focused fundraising event dubbed “Wash You Foot and Come” brought together dozens of engaged locals and dignitaries at Casa Palmadita in Fitches Creek, with the highest-profile guests being Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda Sir Rodney Williams and his wife Lady Williams. The event was organized to benefit St. John Hospice, a palliative care institution that counts the couple as its official patrons.
For years, St. John Hospice has filled a critical gap in Antigua and Barbuda’s care ecosystem, delivering specialized, compassionate end-of-life support to terminally ill residents and their loved ones navigating the emotional and practical challenges of serious illness. Unlike many healthcare services that focus on curative treatment, the hospice centers its work on upholding patient dignity, reducing physical discomfort, and surrounding patients and families with emotional support — a mission that has earned it deep respect across the nation.
In opening remarks delivered to the gathered crowd, Sir Rodney Williams highlighted the quiet but transformative impact of the hospice’s work. He praised the organization for staying rooted in core values of dignity, comfort, and radical empathy, and urged all attendees to continue their long-term support of the institution beyond the one-day fundraiser. He noted that sustained backing, whether through financial donations, hands-on volunteer work, or public advocacy to expand the hospice’s reach, remains essential to keeping the organization’s critical services running.
Following his remarks, Lady Williams presented a sizable donation on behalf of The Halo Foundation, a long-standing partner of St. John Hospice, to Charlene Selkridge, chair of the event’s planning committee. The Halo Foundation has built its mission around supporting vulnerable community members, and its ongoing partnership with the hospice aligns with its core commitments to care, compassion, and public service. This latest contribution marks another chapter in the foundation’s years of investment in palliative care across the country.
The day’s program was smoothly run by Colin Maynard, the newest appointee to the St. John Hospice Board of Directors, who stepped into the role of Master of Ceremonies. Between appeals for support and formal remarks, guests were treated to a lively lineup of local musical entertainment: Armani Gomes performed on the steelpan, Garrett Gill took on guitar duties, and Jevonte played keyboard, adding a warm, community-focused tone to the gathering.
Before the event concluded, Sir Rodney and Lady Williams extended formal thanks to every group that contributed to its success, from Selkridge and the entire planning committee to the hospice’s board, executive leadership, frontline care staff, volunteer caregivers, corporate sponsors, the performing artists, and every individual attendee who gave their time or money to the cause.
Beyond raising the critical operating funds the hospice relies on to continue its work, the fundraiser also achieved a second key goal: it raised public awareness of the irreplaceable role St. John Hospice plays in supporting families across Antigua and Barbuda. By bringing community members together in a spirit of generosity and fellowship, organizers helped more locals understand the value of palliative care and the ongoing need for collective support to sustain the service for years to come.