Last February, inCruises announced a company-wide goal to raise $100,000 to support the work of Mercy Ships, a charity that delivers free, quality healthcare services to people without access in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with its members, employees and supporters, the company instead raised more than a quarter of a million dollars, surpassing its initial goal within a few weeks to reach $261,000 by August 12, 2021.
“As a parent of a child born with a congenital malformation, my family’s dream was to get involved with an organization that could help special children in need like ours,” said inCruises partner Javier Cardona. “Many families do not have the resources for the treatment and surgeries their children need; some of these conditions are even life-threatening. For these reasons, I became a believer in the mission of Mercy Ships, and I hope our inCruises family will do the same.”
Mercy Ships also works to strengthen local healthcare systems and provide medical training opportunities.
“The excellent work Mercy Ships does serves as a role model of possibility and positivity for some of the world’s most needy,” said inCruises CEO Michael Hutchison. “Their healing work has empowered our team to give back and support areas of the world that need medical resources the most. We are incredibly grateful to support the life-changing medical solutions Mercy Ships provides.”
Currently, the Africa Mercy, a former Danish rail ferry, is being prepared to return to West Africa in 2022. An additional vessel, the Global Mercy, is being outfitted in Belgium and will be the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world.
“To provide access to critical surgical expertise in localities where this is simply unavailable to the general population, Mercy Ships relies on the partnership of volunteers and supporters around the world,” said Robert Corley, Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Ships. “The incredible commitment from generous corporate partners and donors like inCruises makes it possible to provide these services at no cost to the recipients.”
