This week’s campus celeb is quite the inspiration. Jacqui is a Senior Neuroscience major who works with Global Medical Brigades to bring medicine and medical supplies to countries without access to basic health care. She has already taken part of a medical brigade to Honduras and is currently raising money to go on a second brigade to Ghana in January! Keep reading to find out more, including how you can help Jacqui in reaching her goal.
Name: Jacqui Wilson
Hometown: Dover, NH
Year: Senior
Major: Neuroscience
What is Global Medical Brigades and how/why did you get involved?
Global Medical Brigades is a student-led non-profit health development organization, where students from UNH and volunteer health professionals render aid to third world countries. Through friends at UNH I heard about the organization two years ago and took part in my first medical brigade to Honduras. As soon as I heard about the opportunity of fundraising to collect medicine and medical supplies for people in these desperate countries, people who don’t have access to basic medical care, I knew this was something I needed to be apart of. I was excited to be able to make a difference in these peoples lives and health, but I never thought in my wildest dreams how eye-opening and humbling of an experience it would be.
We hear you are going to Ghana with the Global Medical Brigades next semester, tell us all about it!
The week in Honduras with GMB was without a doubt the best week of my life. Every time I think about all those people I met I get emotional thinking about how it impacted who I am and strengthened by drive to go to medical school and become a physician. So naturally when I found out about an opportunity to go to Africa this January break with GMB, I jumped at the chance! I will be working along side with doctors, dentists, and health care professionals during this 10 day trip to set up “pop-up” clinics in rural communities in Ghana.
What are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
I am most excited about meeting amazing people during this trip. It is an awe-inspiring experience to be able to see how people different from you live, and to hear their stories. It truly shows you how privileged we are living in the US and makes you appreciate all the little things life has to offer (basically don’t sweat the small stuff because even on your worst days, its not that bad!)
I have to say I am a little nervous about the slight possibility of contracting some “not so fun” diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Everyone going to Ghana with GMB gets a series of vaccines to help prevent this, but still the idea of these diseases isn’t my favorite part about the brigade.
How much money do you need to raise in order to go and how much have you already raised?
In order to be able to go on the brigade to Ghana I will need to fundraise close to $3,000. This is just my personal expense of flight and travel to get me to Africa. As a group, UNH GMB, we are also working together to fundraise money for medicine and medical supplies that we need to bring with us on the brigade. I have personally raised a little over $2,000 so far, but still have a bit to go!
What have you done/plan to do in order to reach your goal?
This summer I had the idea of making bracelets and selling them to raise money. Unfortunately this tactic wasn’t very successful because each one took a long time to hand make the beads and bracelet and they weren’t selling for very much. Now I am working on networking for donations for this awesome cause!
Is there any way others can help you reach your goal?
YES!! GMB has an empowered account where people can donate what ever they can to either personal brigade members or our group as a whole. Any donation will help more than you know!
Also if you would like to help by collecting and donating supplies GMB would greatly appreciate it! Hygiene items like dental products, shampoo, etc are needed for our hygiene packs that we supply each patient in Ghana. Things for the children, like stuffed animals and toys can also be donated and would put a huge smile on their precious faces!
If you have any questions on how to donate or have any supplies you would like to give please email me at jni38@wildcats.unh.edu
What other involvements do you have on campus?
I am in Phi Sigma National Biological Honors Society, an EMT, and also work in a Neuroscience research lab at UNH.
Give us one fun fact about you!
I adopted a pitbull mix named Oasis. I am training her to become a therapy dog to help put smiles on children’s faces who getting their treatments in local hospitals. She is an absolute angel and if you see her around campus feel free to say hi, she would love to give you a kiss!
Visit http://www.empowered.org/Jacqu… to donate and watch the progress Jacqui makes!