By:Curtis Morton
Monday 1st February was a very significant day in the life of the Special Olympics committee on Nevis.
On that day, Mr. Jan Mulder, owner of LASTING IMPRINTS of Canada and his team of cruisers, teamed up with the local Special Olympics committee to host a 5k run/walk.
The stated purpose of the event was to raise awareness as regards Special Olympics and additionally to raise funds for the local committee.
Prior to the run/walk, some of the cruise visitors engaged in a 300 meters swim in the vicinity of Gallows Bay.
The walk/run covered the area between the Charlestown pier to the Four Seasons Resort and back to the pier.
Almost 100 persons participated in the event and this included, Primary schoolers; Special Olympics athletes from both St.Kitts and Nevis and a number of expatriates and other citizens and residents on the island.
Monies were raised through donation boxes at the starting point and a small registration fee. The money was passed over to the local Special Olympics committee.
Even though it was not a strict competition, the persons crossing the finish line in terms of the top placers were as follows:
1st-Romel Gaskin
2nd Vaughn Williams
3rd overall and 1st in the Primary school category-Damari Mitchell of the IWPS
4th overall and 2nd in the Primary school category-Remegio Powell of CPS
5th overall and 3rd in the Primary school category-Rocco Browne of the IWPS.
Speaking to the media after the event, Mrs. Judy Rawlins, Treasurer of the local Special Olympics committee, thanked all who assisted in the cause and made special mention of the following:
Winston Crooke for helping in a big way to organize the event; the Four Seasons Resort; Mrs. Palsy Wilkin; Jan Mulder; Eddy Caines and other coaches from the schools; members of the Special Olympics committee; Josephine Claxton; Clarice Cotton and the St.Kitts participants; Jan Hanson; Cherry; Mark Owsky for advice and guidance; the Police; volunteers and the media.
Going forward, Mrs. Rawlins indicated that the local committee is seeking to find a space to hold awareness classes and to conduct sessions in public speaking so that the athletes could be better prepared when they represent the island in overseas engagements.
The local committee is also planning to hold a reunion meet involving past and current special Olympians.
The athletes also have the annual national games, scheduled for April, as one of the major events on their calendar.