Mahima Benefit 2011 – Music for Life Concert Sold Out Success!

IRD Press Release: October 4, 2011 – Kingston, Jamaica

Sunday on the lawns of the Jamaica Pegasus, the Mahima Benefit - Music for Life rang out under a clear starry Kingston sky welcoming a sold out crowd of friends of the late Monique 'Mahima' Geourzoung and fans of good music, to experience some of Jamaica's brightest stars up close and personal in aid of the Hope Institute.

The 'Mahima' backdrop reflected by the recurring image of her face onscreen, was the glue which sealed the evening as though watched by an angel, guests started filling the venue at 6pm as Christian Watt mixed the music and set the mood for the night. By showtime at 8:10 with the venue already at 75% capacity, the artistes began to take the stage in honour of 'Mahima' and the cause which continues at her request before she died of breast cancer in 2010, to continue the concert annually to raise funds for the HOPE INSTITUTE.

This marked the third Mahima Benefit being staged in Kingston, previously at Friends on the Deck in 2010. The inaugural event was held at Up on the Roof in 2009 produced by Rootz Underground to assist their friend 'Mahima' with medical expenses related to her ongoing battle with cancer which ended in her becoming 'Cancer Positive'. (attached)

The HOPE INTSTITUTE is the only facility of its kind in the country and provides cancer care and treatment for Jamaicans at little or no cost to patients. It provides a VALUABLE service but is solely funded by small government grants and kind private donations and needs assistance. Head consulting doctor at the hospital and Mahima's caregiver, Dr. Dingle Spence, attended the concert and spoke briefly about the institution, her time spent with 'Mahima' during the last part of her journey and appreciation for the awareness and funds being raised by the Mahima Benefit concert which are earmarked for renovations of the hospital's kitchen facility in dire need of expansion and upgrades.

A stellar lineup of talent treated to audience to acoustic and band performances of fan favourites led by Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure, Protoje, Jah 9, Cherine, Chino, Chalice and concert founders Rootz Underground along with Farenheit, Marcus I and Blue Grass in the Sky to round out the lineup. 'Mahima' friends, emcees Claudette Powell and VC, kept the flow going as Arif Cooper provided the right mix to keep the vibes going between the many set changes required to accommodate the impressive lineup of artistes contributing their time and talent for the cause.

Moving the charity event to the Jamaica Pegasus, event producers Zen Events were able in addition to the host sponsor, secure corporate sponsorship from Grace Blends and The Gleaner. The upgraded Mahima Benefit concert experience was enabled by the professional expertise contributed by other friends of 'Mahima' including production partners Jamaica Arts Holdings, Rootz Underground, Supreme Sounds, Main Event, Starlight Productions, The Higher Intelligence Agency, I-Print, Screen Scene, Absolute Entertainment and Caribtix.

The Mahima Benefit 2011 was a fabulous success with the kind contribution of the artistes, musicians, production crew, sponsors and fans who attended Sunday's event and 2012 is already on the lips of many who plan to be there, so there is hope for HOPE and proof of the power of one young woman to start a movement... MAHIMA – doing life.

JAH CURE Jah Cure delivered a show-stopping set infusing jazz riffs into some of his biggest reggae hits. The newlywed donated his time and talent to the Mahima Benefit – Music for Life concert on Sunday October 2 at the Jamaica Pegasus to benefit the Hope Institute Hospital, Jamaica's only specialist oncology centre.	TARRUS RILEY Singy singy Tarrus Riley, thrilled the audience at the Mahima Benefit 2011 on Sunday in the Jamaica Pegasus garden delivering hit after hit during his set which had him dancing across the stage with his MD Dean Fraser and jumping offstage into the audience to continue the up close and personal vibes with music fans. Riley donated his talent for the 3rd annual charity concert to benefit the Hope Institute in honour of the late Monique 'Mahima' Geourzoung.	JAH 9 Stand-out jazz-on-dub artiste, Jah-9, sends a heartfelt 'Warning' musical tribute to her friend ‘Mahima’ at the benefit concert held in honour of the late Monique 'Mahima' Geourzoung to benefit as requested by ‘Mahima’, the Hope Institute, Jamaica's only specialist Oncology Centre.