Royalty Basketball Academy head coach Cleveland "Georgie" King is in need of emergency surgery after suffering a massive heart attack, last month.
The former national senior women's assistant coach is seeking financial assistance to cover some of his medical expenses.
Georgie, a former head coach of Brian Chase Academy, is well known in the local basketball fraternity as the East Port-of-Spain resident has positively impacted the lives of countless people, including several youths.
Recently his son, Hakeem King, who is a national beach soccer player, started a GoFundMe site two days ago to raise US$20,000 on his father’s behalf with a message saying: "Hey guys, my name Hakeem King and my father, Cleveland King, better known as Georgie, recently suffered a massive heart attack, which has lead to him needing emergency surgery."
As of midday yesterday, Hakeem has raised $US10,935 of his father's US$20,000 goals with help from 121 donors. Over the past two days, the situation has been shared across social media promoting the fund-raiser for coach Georgie.
"Coaching has been his passion for over 30 years, as he has coached all age groups from kindergarten all the way up to the adults. He even had a short stint as the assistant coach for the senior national women’s basketball team of T&T," said Hakeem on his his father Georgie, who is a well-known figure in the basketball community as coach coach of the Academy's men's and women's teams.
According to the younger King, the funds will be used to pay for the surgery as well as the additional medical expenses associated with having to be under observation at the hospital.
"I understand it’s a very hard time currently with all that’s going on in the world, so sharing the link is appreciated just as much as any donation. Thank you for all the support in helping Georgie to coach again!” said Hakeem on the GoFundMe site, hoping to help one of his biggest supporters, his father. To assist coach Georgies with as little as you can financially go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-georgie-coach-again