BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CHRISTMAS is a joyous time of giving and sharing and although it comes but once a year there are some who go the extra mile in ensuring that that time is extra special for others.
The Racing and Gaming Services Social Committee (RGSSC) is committed to spreading that love and brought some holiday cheer on Dec. 19 to a St. Peters family.
The social committee made a donation of some food items and life essentials to 17-year-old Kailah James, who has been paralyzed for the past four years.
Along with the food items, the social committee also presented James and her mother Venetia Clarke with a cheque of EC $5,200.00.
The donation was done at James’ home in the presence of some of the members of the RGSSC, James’ mother and Osbert DeSouza of the Basic Needs Trust Fund.
According to one of the members of the social committee and a Supervisor at Racing and Gaming, Sasha Bridgwater, it is cases like this with James that the club continues to enthusiastically venture to make their annual contributions in the Spirit of Christmas.
Bridgewater said that the committee is bent on extending a helping hand in assisting the less fortunate within our community.
Last year, the committee donated 43 cases of food and life essentials to the Ministry of Social and Community Development to distribute to 22 individuals.
“The group remains committed to its outreach programme aimed at curbing poverty and functions under the slogan, ‘What is care without the willingness to share?’”
“The disease has taken away little Kailah’s ability to work and provide for herself and it is with cases like this in mind that the club continues to enthusiastically venture to make their annual contributions in the Spirit of Christmas,” she said.
Venetia Clarke thanked the social committee on behalf of her daughter and herself and called the day ‘blessed’.
“We are very touched; we are very grateful for this very kind and timely donation that has been made by the Racing and Gaming Services. I would like to say thank you all very much for this great donation that you have given to Kailah and myself today. May the Lord continue to bless you and prosper your institution,” she said.
She also extended gratitude to Osbert DeSouza who she said was the person who went out into the community and reached out to persons on behalf of them and for contacting RGS.
James is described as a remarkable young lady who is full of optimism and courage allowing her to turn this crippling disability into an inspiration that speaks to the power of the human spirit.
This year she was named one of the 25 Most Remarkable Teens in St. Kitts and was quoted as saying she thinks she is a nicer person since the paralysis.
“I definitely have more perspective. I have learned that an emotional disability is much more crippling than a physical disability. I want to use my story to motivate others, to tell people that the impossible is possible as long as you have faith and never ever give up,” she stated.
During their visit, RGS staff was treated to James’ exceptional talent of singing and performing as she played some of her songs including one that was recorded professionally and revealed that singing and music was one of her passions.
The RGSSC also extended gratitude to the members of Racing and Gaming Services and International Software Services for their continued assistance during the years, for making their endeavors possible.
They first did so in December 2006 when they distributed food hampers to two well deserving families in St. Kitts while in 2007 they donated toys, books, blankets, towels and other items to the Pediatric Ward of the Joseph n. France General Hospital.
In 2008, a $5,000 donation was made to the Children’s Home and in 2009, Shirley Carey who suffered the loss of her home due to a fire, received one gas stove, EC$2,000 voucher for Karibhana Trading, EC $1,500 voucher for C&C Superfoods and an EC$150 voucher for Fulton and Island Bakeries.
