Myrtle Beach author, former teacher, donating book proceeds to benefit Ukraine

Kathy Rigby has seen the heartbreak of human suffering firsthand.

In the 1980s, the now Myrtle Beach resident was a primary school teacher in Kenya while helping manage famine relief programs to nations across eastern Africa.

Rigby wove that work into “Fighting Lions with Loo Rolls: An African Experience,” a memoir heavy on celebrating Kenya’s rich culture and majestic landscapes she published in 2020.

On March 24, Rigby will use a book signing at the Grande Dunes’ Ocean Club to raise money for people living through another humanitarian crisis — she’s donating all proceeds to international charities supporting the people of Ukraine.

“When I was watching television about Ukraine, my heart was just aching, and I couldn’t stand to do nothing,” Rigby said. “Then I thought, ‘I already have got a venue, so let me do a fundraiser for Ukraine.’”

It’s just the latest gesture in the Grand Strand by everyday residents, business owners and elected officials who are standing behind the former Soviet state, which has been besieged by Russian forces.

On March 16, the Horry County Council approved a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion, following a similar move by Myrtle Beach city leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a joint address to Congress on Wednesday, compared Russian hostilities to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor, evoking strong messages of support by South Carolina’s federal delegation.

Rigby said it’s impossible not to be moved by Ukraine’s plight and she hopes those who attend her book signing will not only benefit the cause but learn about other nations that have experienced their own bouts of conflict.

Rigby plans to match any money raised with $300 of her own.

“I saw other places doing this with their businesses, and so I know it can work, because they were very successful,” Rigby said. “If I had more money, believe me. Ukraine is just the most important event of our entire lives.”

Attendance at the book signing is limited, and an RSVP is required. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Grande Dunes’ Ocean Club. For more information or to RSVP, call (843) 515-0350.

This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 1:20 PM.