It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved founder, Alice Blandford. Born in Nicaragua, Alice dedicated her life to addressing the medical needs of her people, founding the Nicaraguan Medical Mission as a testament to her unwavering compassion and determination.
In 2009, with a team of just 17 nurses and doctors, Alice embarked on her first mission trip to Nicaragua. This February 2024, she completed her 11th and final mission. Under Alice’s leadership, the Nicaraguan Medical Mission grew into a remarkable effort, bringing together an average of 55 U.S.-based volunteers and 20 Nicaraguan volunteers each year. The mission’s mobile clinic visited multiple towns, offering medical, dental, and vision care, teaching crafting skills to empower local women, and hosting vacation Bible school for children. Over the years, the mission has provided nearly 20,000 patient visits, including an annual average of over 2,000 patients, and even repainted the entire cancer ward of Nicaragua’s only children’s cancer hospital.
In honor of Alice’s lifelong dedication to nursing and education, the Alice Blandford Memorial Scholarship Fund will continue one of the mission’s core initiatives: supporting the education of nurses in Nicaragua and the United States. Alice was deeply passionate about sponsoring Nicaraguan nursing students, a life-changing opportunity that costs less than $2,000 per student. She also championed the advancement of nursing education in the U.S., having earned her Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of South Florida in 1999. Mentoring the next generation of nurses was a cornerstone of Alice’s vision, and this scholarship fund ensures that her legacy of compassion and empowerment lives on.
Alice leaves behind a tremendous void, but her spirit and mission endure. The Blandford family is committed to continuing her extraordinary work through the Nicaraguan Medical Mission and the scholarship fund. They extend their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming love, prayers, and support during this profoundly difficult time. Alice’s legacy will continue to inspire and uplift, as she always envisioned.
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