Little girl wins trip to U.S. in Gimme 5

It was as dramatic a finish as this station’s annual “Gimme Five” promotion has ever witnessed. After several tries without success American Airlines manager Luis Alpuche and host William Neal finally combined to get a winning entry on the line. Here’s how it went on Friday night.

(dialing and ringing of phone)

Cherry Sedassey, Winner’s Mother

(answering) “Gimme Five!!!”

(loud clapping)

When the applause died down we discovered that the winning entry belonged to nine year old Michelle Brooks of Currasow Street in Belize City. Since Michelle was sleeping at the time, her mother Cherry Sedassey, had the presence of mind to utter these magic words which earned her a plane ticket to the States courtesy of American Airlines and five hundred dollars cash from Channel Five. When she reached the studio to claim her prize Sedassey was still in a state of shock.

Cherry Sedassey

“I got discouraged saying that mine would not come out at all because I sent in 14 tickets and I was watching it from Monday and my name did not come out, none of my children’s names came out. I said that I would have to try again next time and I went on the verandah to stand up a while. As I went on the verandah I heard my phone ringing and I came in back and looked on the TV and said, “Oh,” and I picked up the phone and said, “Gimme Five”.”

(Cheering)

In all over fifty prize packages from several dozen generous sponsors were given out during the weeklong celebration. Channel Five first began to broadcast on December ninth, 1991.