Walk-a-thon for Essex resident
Community walks to raise money for one of its own

Craig Lindabery | staff writer

The Community Walk-a-thon on Dec. 1 was a convergence of caring individuals trying to help Dzemila Heco, a Sodexho employee working at St. Michael’s.  Heco was paralyzed when a car struck her from behind while she was stopped at a red light on Aug. 4, 2007.

Giving back

Heco’s Sodexho co-workers knew her for her welcoming attitude, says Roger Kayser, a Sodexho chef.

Heco is a former Sodexho employee who was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident. Craig Lindabery, photo

“Whenever I came to work at St. Michael’s, Dzemila would always greet me with open arms,” Kayser says.
 
Kayser saw Heco whenever he cooked at St. Michael’s.  Kayser's daughter Michelle, a St.  Michael’s senior, attended Essex High School with Heco’s son Emir.

“The Hecos are so eager to help anybody,” Michelle says. “They are a good quiet family. Dzemila always had an extraordinary work ethic and warm demeanor.”

Michelle played a major role in organizing the event, along with other Essex High School students and Sodexho employees.

“I’ve known Dzemila and her family since they moved here in 1995,” says Edina Kavacevic, a friend of Heco who helped. “Our children would always play with each other. It was great for them growing up to have the Hecos.  Since our children did not know English, they were always close.”

The money raised at the walk will go toward reducing the cost of Heco’s expensive medical bills.

“Unfortunately, it isn’t really possible for working class people to afford healthcare in this country,” Kovacevic says. “I absolutely think that every American should have healthcare.”

Community support

The walk-a-thon offered the community a chance to help a family in a truly dire situation.  Dzemila and her two sons immigrated to the United States from Bosnia in 1995.  Since the death of her husband, Heco has been supporting her two children as a single mother.  Heco’s son Emir is a graduate of Essex High School and currently attends the University of Vermont. 

Walkers do laps around Tarrant as junior Jerome Allen provides the music. Craig Lindabery, photo

“Dzemila inspired us to do this,” Kovacevic says.  “We have to show that we are concerned about one another.”

Although the walk-a-thon is the main fund-raiser for Heco’s family, it is not the only attempt to raise money for Heco.  Other efforts include donations from the office of Mobilization for Volunteer Efforts (MOVE) and solicitations of local businesses in hopes they will donate, Kayser says.

“We have gotten some help from local businesses which is great,” she says. “It’s just frustrating when businesses don’t donate to such a worthy person.”

Walking for a cause

Junior Jerome Allen, who was the deejay for the event, says many of the people who came did not even know Heco, they are just good people.

“You have to have a heart, and do something good,” Allen says. “A lot of people here were members of the community who just felt compelled to come. Knowing the person isn’t important, it’s the cause that matters.”

At several times throughout the day there were significant waves of walkers coming in to donate, Allen says.
 
Friends and family walked and talked, but the demeanor was understandably grave. 

Walkers could sign a card with well wishes for Heco. Craig Lindabery, photo

“Everyone who came really showed heart,” Allen says.  “It was good to see a crowd. It shows that a lot of people knew this is serious.”