The 2014 Penn Relays are about seven months away, but already two Vincentian groups based in the United States of America are ensuring that there will be a financial ease for teams from St Vincent and the Grenadines, who will make the trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the last weekend of April.{{more}}

So, last Saturday, Friends of COSAGO held a Vincy style Prayer Breakfast at the Friends of Crown Heights in Brooklyn, and set the wheels in motion to raise funds to support the team.

St Vincent and the Grenadines began participating in the Penn Relays in 2010, when the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) ventured out in the event, which is over 100 years old.

The TSSS continued its participation in 2011 and 2012.

Reports say that participation of each student-athlete costs about $3,000, but the St Vincent and the Grenadines Organisation of Pennyslvania SVGOP and COSAGO have assisted the TSSS over the past three years.

In the first year, COSAGO and the SVGOP took care of the uniforms for the TSSS, a gesture which was never promised to the school.

But while the cost of the travel to the three-day event is undertaken by the school, the SVGOP has taken on itself the responsibility of accommodation, food and transportation, while in Pennsylvania for the three days.

James Cordice, the man behind St Vincent and the Grenadines, and more so the TSSS, being represented at the very popular event, explained that one cannot always put a dollar value to the cost of participation in the Penn Relays.

For him there are many positives, as he used an example of Vincentian athlete Jean Cummings, now Dr Cummings, who in 2003, set a record while representing his school Morgan State.

“…This can also be the result … If one or two children benefit, then that in itself is worth it.. These children train for a year for this event, and they are full of promise. For me, they are winners already…. These children gain something, you see hope. The parents explain that upon return the children see things in a different light, “Cordice pointed out.

Cordice is also the only non-Jamaican on Team Jamaica Bickles, which provides a feeding programme for all Caribbean athletes once they register with the organization upon arrival at the games.

The keynote speaker at the prayer breakfast was Eddie Jeffers.

There were also performances from Sabrina de Shong, Anndean Charles, Rachel Scott, and Judith Murray, as well as the Attributes Worship team.

Pastor Samuel and Cecil Durrant gave invocations at the ceremony. (RT)