Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has taken the lead in relief efforts following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica. The retired Olympic champion has been actively visiting affected communities to support residents in their recovery from the catastrophic storm that struck in late October 2025.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Helps Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
The Jamaican sprinter known as the “Pocket Rocket” has shifted her focus to helping her country recover from Hurricane Melissa. On October 28, 2025, the hurricane made landfall on Jamaica’s south coast as a Category 5 storm, marking the most intense hurricane ever to directly hit the island. Sustained wind speeds reached 185 mph (297 km/h), causing catastrophic damage across St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland parishes.
Fraser-Pryce responded immediately by activating her Pocket Rocket Foundation, which she started in 2013 to support young athletes in Jamaica. The foundation’s team has been working directly in the hardest-hit areas to assist families in need.
In a recent Instagram post, Fraser-Pryce shared a Jamaican proverb: “Every mickle mek a muckle,” which means that small contributions add up to create big change. She described the destruction she witnessed firsthand during her relief visits.
Several of the student-athletes she supports are now living in temporary shelters, waiting to return home.
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She personally spent several days traveling through St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland to see the damage and understand what communities needed most. During her visits, she and her team gave out food, clean water, and care packages to families struggling to survive in the aftermath.
The damage has been severe and widespread, with 49 people dying across the Caribbean region, and hundreds more injured in the affected areas. In St. Elizabeth Parish, nearly 90% of homes lost their roofs to the powerful winds located near the hurricane’s landfall point, and approximately 76% of its buildings experienced destruction.
Over 500,000 residents were left without electricity, and thousands of families lost their homes. Schools and infrastructure collapsed across the region, with roads blocked by debris and many communities cut off from outside help.
Fraser-Pryce used her platform to acknowledge the collective effort needed for recovery. She publicly thanked all the organizations and community partners who came together to help affected residents. The foundation distributed red bags branded with “Pocket Rocket” to families receiving aid, making the relief effort a visible commitment to these communities.
Throughout her athletic career, the three-time Olympic gold medalist has shown a strong commitment to giving back to Jamaica. Born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, she has stayed connected to her roots and to the challenges facing her nation.
Her Pocket Rocket Foundation provides scholarships to high school students aged 12 to 18 who excel in sports. The foundation covers tuition fees, books, meals, and transportation costs, helping hundreds of young Jamaicans pursue both education and athletic development.