Members of the volunteer group Circle of Hope gathered this past weekend with Cancer Support Virgin Islands patient advocate Anique Harrigan to present a $10,000 donation supporting cancer patients and their families throughout the territory. The donation represents the proceeds from an East-Indian food sale held Oct. 17 at Emancipation Garden, where community members turned out steadily through the afternoon to pick up meals and show support.

The fundraiser was organized by Aparna Nagpal, herself a cancer survivor, with dishes prepared by chefs Prakash Khemani and Anita Wadhwani, whose menu drew praise for its fresh flavors and abundance. They were supported by a dedicated team of Circle of Hope volunteers who handled food preparation, packaging, sales tables, and day-of logistics — the kind of coordinated effort that helped the event run smoothly and created a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Meals were sold for $25 each, raising $7,300. To bring the final donation to $10,000, the Khemani family contributed the remaining amount — a gesture members said reflected the group’s shared commitment to helping families facing cancer across the territory.

“Every penny raised went to Cancer Support Virgin Islands,” Nagpal said. “We’re grateful to everyone who came out, shared a meal, and helped make this possible. We look forward to continuing to organize events that give back to our community in meaningful ways.”

Accepting the check on behalf of CSVI, Harrigan expressed appreciation for the support, noting that donations like this help ensure that 200 cancer patients within the territory have access to transportation, treatment assistance, counseling, and other essential services.

Circle of Hope organizers say they plan to continue partnering with local nonprofits to support cancer patients and others in need across the Virgin Islands.