LOG Foundation gives back to Brixton Hill through sport
Rare cancer takes the life of football fan, charity to realise late entrepreneur’s dreams
Published:Wednesday | February 2, 2022 | 12:11 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston /Gleaner Writer
THE FAMILY of the late Lamar Gayle, who hailed from the community of Brixton Hill in north Clarendon, last Friday presented students of the Brixton Hill Primary and Infant School with much-needed soccer gear.
Carmen Gayle, his sister, said the foundation was formed to honour her brother who passed away on Saturday, January 29 in New York after a short battle with cancer.
“We have since formed the LOG (Lamar Oneil Gayle) Foundation. The O in LOG was designed to represent a T cell. Lamar passed from a rare cancer called T-Cell lymphoma which attacks the body aggressively,” Carmen explained.
According to the American Cancer Society, “T-Cell lymphoma makes up 15% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the United States,” Carmen shared.
She said the intention was to power awareness about the rare cancer through the foundation as she continues to uphold Lamar’s kind spirit of giving.
“The latest project was inspired by Lamar’s love for soccer which began on his own home soil, Brixton Hill. He has always expressed his desire of hosting a soccer match. This project is only the beginning,” she informed.
Lamar, a past student of Brixton Hill Primary, also attended Lennon High and Portmore HEART Academy before migrating to New York as a qualified plumber.
BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR
There he realised his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, running his company Lamar Carpenting LLC, which operated in various states, as well as maintained steady contracts with the Home Depot chain.
In addition to the football gear, the foundation has also pledged US$500 (approximately $78,000) towards transporting the primary school’s football team.
Commenting on her brother’s legacy, Carmen said being back in the community has awakened a lot of cherished childhood memories.
“I was once a student here and so were my other siblings. A foundation is where development begins. And ours began right here, what better place to begin this initiative,” she said in an interview with The Gleaner.
Carmen also expressed pride in her brother’s living achievements.
“A little country boy who came to New York City and set up a thriving business.
“Words cannot express how proud I am of him, and that’s why I’m here to honour his memory, a quest well fulfilled and vision worth birthing.
LOG foundation will continue to raise awareness and uphold his kind spirit of giving,” she said.