Rygin King launching foundation to donate wheelchairs

Dancehall artiste Rygin King has dedicated himself to raising funds for purchasing wheelchairs, walkers, and various other mobility aids.

Through his Rygin King Foundation, presently being registered as a non-profit organisation, he aims to support disabled Jamaicans who face challenges with mobility, enabling them to engage in activities like walking with greater ease. The artiste has used a wheelchair following a gun attack in June 2020 in Westmoreland. He wants to raise at least US$100,000 (approximately $15.5 million) to purchase more than 100 wheelchairs.

"We a wait pon the right set a people fi reach out to we, right now we don't even raise J$5000. I hope the people dem see this and help with the cause. A whole heap a money man deh a Jamaica inno and a dash it all 'bout. Me a money man when me ready, too, you know, but at least mi feed people. So, hopefully, a man can tek up a $100,000 or a $200,000 and put towards the cause," he said. He said that his initial goal is to raise US$30,000 to start buying items.

"Mi wah buy couple powered wheelchair and couple manual wheelchair, plus couple walkers, and couple sponge donut fi dem siddung pon so dem no ketch bed sore ... ," he shared. Rygin King revealed that he has already identified nine recipients who joined his live post on TikTok.

He said his restriction to a wheelchair has provided first-hand experience of the neglect disabled Jamaicans have to endure.

"Wheelchair people get less help, less strength. People who a walk get more help and more strength, believe me. I've learnt that off experience," he said. "Mi need support. Mi need real support fi mek weh me need fi mek happen with the charitable organisation weh mi a come forward with."

The trap artiste, who garnered widespread attention following his single Tuff, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the paucity of proper infrastructure to accommodate paraplegics in Jamaica is disappointing, and he hopes to do as much as he can to support paraplegics.

"Jamaica is somewhere that don't business with you when you inna wheelchair, mentally and physically. Dem don't even provide the sidewalk weh the wheelchair fi even drive pon ... it look bad," he exclaimed. However, he praised the persons who have been supportive of the wheelchair community.

He is also focused on the upcoming release of his album Recovery, a 15-track project.

"Is a body of motivation and uplifting spirit, because it is about recovery; mentally and physically, we a work pon recovery," he said, noting that the title track, which features Chronic Law, will be released three weeks from now.