New Providence
Doctors Hospital makes annual donation to Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA)
By Michele G. Rassin
Nov 3, 2009 - 3:21:30 PM

Pictured L-R: Carolyn Caley, Director/ Chairman of Fundraising Committee; Richard Parker, Commodore BASRA; Michele Rassin, VP Operations, Doctors Hospital; Chris Lloyd, BASRA Operations Manager and Kelly Anne Smith, Graphic Designer, Doctors Hospital.

Nassau, Bahamas - If you find your boat is in trouble in Bahamian waters, the outfit you'll hope to see coming is BASRA – The Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Service.  For over 36 years, BASRA has been providing search and rescue assistance to all those who travel Bahamian waters. 

Solely manned and operated by volunteers, BASRA has saved many lives and been involved in thousands of rescues. With the assistance of both the Bahamas Defense Force and the U.S. Coast Guard, BASRA maintains a watchful eye on our Bahamian seas.  Putting in hours of time on the open seas, tracking, assisting and rescuing The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association stands by, ready and willing to lend a hand, to those in distress at sea, 24 hours a day with boats, planes and communications; - and all of it is done free of charge.

A nonprofit volunteer organization, BASRA relies mainly on memberships, merchandise sales, fundraisers and donations from the general public and good corporate citizens. Donations, grants and legacies from all sectors of the community are extremely important and BASRA depends on these contributions to function and maintain its service in Bahamian waters. They have many operating costs and expenses that are a part of carrying out their rescue work.

Doctors Hospital, a supporter of BASRA for many years, recently made a donation in support of the organization. “This gift to the BASRA will help them to continue to provide emergency assistance and develop their new initiatives. Doctors Hospital has been making a contribution for many years now in support of the untiring work of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association.  We are always happy to lend our assistance to those persons in distress and stranded at sea through our donation to BASRA.” stated Michele Rassin, Vice President of Operations, Doctors Hospital.

Their annual fundraiser, the BASRA Evening of Elegance will take place on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at the Old Fort Bay Club. Proceeds from the ball are earmarked to fund the tremendous work they do each year “volunteers saving lives at sea”.  How can you help BASRA? You can lend a hand by purchasing a ticket to attend the event, volunteering your services, becoming a BASRA member or by forwarding your donation to Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Association, PO Box SS 6247, Nassau, Bahamas; for more information call (242) 325-8864.