Institutions benefit from Awesome Sports International donations

The St Benedict’s Day Nursery and Hospital, the Guadalupe Home for Girls and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) have benefitted from the generosity of Awesome Sports International Inc.

On Sunday, March 5, Awesome Sports International Inc held its 2017 “Kick against Crime” football matches at Victoria Park, which also saw local football coach Ian Sardine recognized for his contribution to the sport. Some of the proceeds of this event, EC$3,000, was shared between the three entities.

Collecting the MCMH’s portion of the donation, hospital administrator Grace Walters said the money would be used to fund the hospital’s cancer programme.

“I would like to extend our thanks to Awesome Sports for the most generous donation. It is good that as part of your celebration you saw it fit to give,” Walters said.

She explained that oncology services at the MCMH is one of the major priorities and the hospital is in the process of organizing resources to deal with the vast problem of cancer, as it is quickly becoming the top cause of death in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

“Almost every day someone dies with the diagnosis of cancer,” Walters said, noting that while some persons will say $1,000 is a small amount of money, when you consider the cost of drugs, the money will go a long way.

“I am hoping that by your generous donation, which right now I am thinking several things to be done with the money, I hope this will spark the consciousness of others, so that they too can come forward and be a part of this initiative that was started by the Awesome Sports International Inc and become donors to the oncology service at the MCMH,” Walters said.

Also receiving EC$1,000 each, were Mirtle Pompey, on behalf of the Guadalupe Home for Girls and Sister Nyra-Anne Pajotte of St Benedict’s.

“I feel very good on behalf of the home because they really need it,” said Pompey.

Sister Pajotte said: “We would like to encourage other people to help us, because we are trying our best with the children, because we like to see them happy and make progress in their day-to-day living.”

She added that the money would come in handy, as they are constructing a utility room, a laundry and a storage area at the home.

“We are also going to have our main fund-raiser, a tea party and fair, so we are glad for this support, because this is how we take care of the children,” Pajotte added.

The home caters to between 12 and 20 at any one time.

Dominic Stowe of Awesome Sports said the group, which is headed by Renson Haynes, is proud to be able to help the charities.

The Celebrity Football Match, which helped raised the money, featured players who included journalist Lyf Compton, panist Rodney Small, entertainer Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, lawyer Akin John and physical instructor and basketballer Ishama McCree.

Compton and Small said that they were happy to be part of the event that helped raise money for the charities.