Cape & Islands News

Hit and Run History lends a hand to Cape Verde

Historical Adventure show brings local aid worker to disease-stricken island

CHATHAM - Luisa Schaeffer, an outreach worker at the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, is returning to help her native country's struggles against a deadly epidemic -- thanks to a local television show heading there this weekend.

For "gumshoe historian" Andrew Buckley and his crew of Hit and Run History, the trip to Cape Verde was supposed to be easy. A working vacation in the best sense. This was the first stop on their series following the track of the first American voyage ‘round the word - the Columbia Expedition - after leaving Boston.

"Their first reaction was, ‘Aw, we can't go.' But when they realized I wasn't suggesting that, they quickly said, ‘No, we have to go!'" - Andy Buckley.

Then they learned last week that the island nation off the west coast of Africa has been hit by an epidemic of dengue fever. Nearly 10,000 are infected and six have died of the incurable mosquito-borne illness previously unknown in this arid archipelago. Last Wednesday the Hit and Run History (HRH) crew applied for their visas at the Cape Verde Consulate in Boston, but returned home to learn the country had declared an epidemic.

Buckley explained the situation to his crewmembers, and assessed the risk. "Their first reaction was, ‘Aw, we can't go.' But when they realized I wasn't suggesting that, they quickly said, ‘No, we have to go!'"

As more information came through the HRH fan page on Facebook, Buckley read about efforts in  rockton to provide relief by the Cape Verdean community in Massachusetts. That's what put him in contact with Brockton Neighborhood Health Center's Schaeffer. Buckley asked how HRH could help, thinking of using excess room in their checked baggage. He also suggested the camera crew might be able to document and relay reports of what is happening in Cape Verde to the interested audiences in Southeastern New  England.

But as they spoke, Buckley saw a greater opportunity. Recently, a translator whom HRH recruited in a summertime competition had suddenly cancelled, leaving the crew with an extra pre-paid, non-refundable ticket. Schaeffer is a native of Cape Verde, with family living in the capital, Praia. "When Luisa explained she had assembled the first relief shipment out from Boston the previous Friday," said Buckley, "I asked if she would be would like the ticket to continue her relief work in Cape Verde."

Schaeffer readily agreed. With the help from the airline, Buckley was able to change the ticket on humanitarian grounds. Now the five-person crew will be accompanied by a local on their flight. "We'll have a much greater insight into what is going on. Aside from the history we're chasing, talking about John Kendrick bringing Columbia into the harbor here to prepare for the long voyage around South America, we'll get to meet the people, and tell their stories as we tell ours. We're glad to help."

Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. In recent years it has become a major public health concern in the tropics. The geographical spread of both the mosquito and the virus has led to the global resurgence of epidemic dengue fever in the past 25 years, according to World Health Organization (WHO). There is no known cure to the disease.

2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk

WHO says some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world's population, are now at risk from dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries.

The BNHC is asking for donations of cash and the following items to help fight dengue in Cape Verde: mosquito repellent, vitamin C, Tylenol (acetaminophen), hand sanitizer, and rubbing alcohol. The drop off location is at the Brockton Adult Day Health, 764 N. Main St. Brockton, MA. Contact Sonia Alves at 508-897-0600.

Hit and Run History is a production of the Cape Cod Community Media Center, being broadcast to 60,000 homes. The pilot episode screened in nine locations this summer, including the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum. It was awarded Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants from the towns of Marshfield, Wareham and Chatham. Buckley is the foremost authority on the Columbia Expedition and its commander, John Kendrick. He's been on the trail of this story since 1995, beginning with research for his novel The Bostoner.

"This is new history," says Buckley. "Except for a handful of experts, no one really knows the story of the Columbia Expedition. Yet, it had such a profound and lasting effect on American and world history. Without it, there would have been no Lewis and Clark - no ‘sea to shining sea.'" Because epic sweep of the story, HRH developed the approach of telling it in serial form, mixing the best elements of history, travel and reality television.

As a concept show, HRH's approach is to get out to the locations where microhistory occurred. They visit the places where historical figures lived and talk to local historians who can give their personal insights. The film crew also gets involved in the telling of the story, with a focus on the "making of" the documentary. Over a dozen locations scattered throughout eastern Massachusetts were filmed, including the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Salem's Derby Wharf and Hull's Fort Revere.

This second installment, including footage shot in Cape Verde, is projected to be completed in February 2010, and will be screened throughout the state starting in March. The pilot is currently being offered for consideration to networks like the Travel Channel and PBS.

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