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Inmate Gift Fights Malaria
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Most people would assume that a career criminal has nothing to offer society, but a Pennsylvania inmate defied the odds. Given a chance to help, he gave generously and inspired others with his turnaround story. Lilla Marigza has his story. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: New Brighton, Pennsylvania)Guy W. Simpson: “I felt like my life was over.”
At age 22, Guy Simpson was facing up to five years at the maximum security prison in Greene County, Pennsylvania.
Guy W. Simpson, Former Inmate: “When the judge sentenced me the last time, he said, ‘Mr. Simpson, you’re a lowlife.’ He said, ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison.’”
Guy’s dad had been in and out of jail, and Guy began a career of crime at age 12. Shoplifting escalated to auto theft, drug charges, and credit card fraud. The judge’s words were a wake-up call.
Guy began to attend Bible study and weekly worship services. There he heard United Methodist chaplain Kathy Higgins mention “Imagine No Malaria,” an effort to eliminate malaria deaths by 2015.
The Rev. Kathy Higgins, Prison Chaplain: “I shared it during announcement time. I probably spent four or five minutes speaking about it.”
Guy W. Simpson: “She told us stories about how many people die of malaria and how much one mosquito net would help.”
Guy wanted to do something. Ten dollars would buy a life-saving bed net.
Guy W. Simpson: (reading from letter) “I can only afford five dollars...”
He mailed a heartfelt letter, along with a third of his monthly income … money he usually used to buy essentials like soap and toothpaste.
Guy W. Simpson (reading from letter): “I can’t really save five lives for 50 or ten lives for a hundred, but maybe this month I could save half a life for just five bucks.”
Those who received the letter matched his gift. United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton says even those with limited means can help save babies from dying.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, Imagine No Malaria Campaign: “It’s a message that translates into a concrete way that people can make a difference in saving someone’s life.”
Guy W. Simpson: “Jesus told us to go into all the world. And being in jail, you can’t even leave your cell, let alone go into all the world. So I said this would be a good way to get across seas and make a difference.”
TAG:
Guy Simpson was released from prison in May, 2010. He currently has a job at a factory that makes pipes. As soon as he covers his housing expenses, he says he intends to follow through on his promise to give more to fight malaria. You can learn more about the Imagine No Malaria campaign at this.
You can learn more about the Imagine No Malaria campaign at www.imaginenomalaria.org.
Posted: August 4, 2010