BASSETERRE, St. KItts, 9 July 2010: Three St. Kitts & Nevis charities, together with local Government sports departments, are to receive a generous £15,000 donation raised by parents and pupils of Parkside School in Surrey for the School’s recent cricket and football tour to the Caribbean in April 2010.
During a visit to Parkside on Monday 5th July by Senator Richard Skerritt, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the donation was announced by the School’s Headmaster, Mr. David Aylward. Senator Skerritt had also been Minister of Sports when planning for the Parkside sports tour to the Caribbean first began nearly two years ago
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The three local NGO beneficiary charities in St. Kitts include ‘Ade’s Place’, a day-care centre for children with physical and mental disabilities, the ‘Special Olympics’ which helps children with intellectual challenges develop their full potential through sport, and the ‘St Christopher Outreach Centre’, a facility operated by the Christian Council to provide free nutrition and health services for the needy. As part of the donation, a total of £3000 in cricket gear was allocated for the benefit of young cricketers involved in local youth development programs.
During a short but impressive ceremony at the School, Minister Skerritt said, “On behalf of the Charities involved, and the Government and people of St. Kitts & Nevis, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the pupils, staff and parents at Parkside School, who worked tirelessly to raise this large donation. We were honoured to have the School’s sports team tour St. Kitts & Nevis earlier this year; I know that they enjoyed our islands both on and off the sports fields, and we hope they will return. This is a wonderful story of responsible tourism at work and I am pleased to have been part of it“
While touring the School and meeting with the pupils, Minister Skerritt enjoyed a great rapport with the boys who had toured St. Kitts, sharing stories of memorable games played with local teams from St. Kitts and Nevis, the historic and cultural attractions they visited on both islands and the hospitality they encountered during their visit. 17 Parkside star pupils played six cricket and two football matches, accompanied by their families and supporters who made up the total group to 72 persons.
David Aylward, Headmaster of Parkside School, said, “The Parkside School sports tour to St Kitts and Nevis this year was a great success. Both islands are populated with wonderful people and stunning beaches. From the moment we arrived we enjoyed fantastic hospitality from Government Ministers to the local communities which we are proud to have been able to support financially after some exciting fund raising events in England before the tour. The cricket and football matches were fought with great spirit by both sides and the boys were very privileged to be able to play at the Warner Park International Stadium, a memory they won't forget. I have absolutely no doubt that many of the touring families will return and no hesitation in recommending these islands as a fabulous touring destination."
