charity to aid their sick colleagues.

And they will stage a benefit concert later this month to raise funds to help ill musicians with their medical expenses.

The Bermuda Musicians and Entertainers Benevolent Fund president Abdullah Furquan said the fund was established to immediately assist fellow musicians David Burch, Glenfield Smith and Rosemarie Deshields with their medical expenses.

"Because musicians are part-time workers, they are not insured through the hotels,'' Mr. Furquan explained. "Rosemarie was on an operating table when they found out that she didn't have insurance. They postponed the surgery.'' He said incidents like the one involving Ms Deshields prompted the formation of the fund.

And Mr. Furquan said 25 local entertainers, including Bootsie, Shine Hayward and Mocha, would jointly donate their time for a benefit concert on September 28 at Clearwater Beach.

"We hope to raise $250,000 ,'' he said. "We hope that everyone will come out.'' He said private and corporate sponsors would be sought in a bid to offset costs for the day-long event to keep the ticket prices low -- around $10.

And Mr. Furquan said that there were plans for more events in the future to help boost the fund, enabling them to help other entertainers in need.

"We will raise money so that the musicians will have a fund to turn to,'' he added. "The money will also go towards scholarships to help those entertainers who want to study abroad.''