The Ariel Rosado Foundation Rides Again
The Ariel Rosado Foundation held its annual ride along the George Price Highway this past Saturday. The riders traveled from Galen University Campus in Central Farm and ended at the Hour Bar Field in Belize City. The ride is used to generate funds for scholarships for at least forty students for the upcoming school year. Andrea Polanco has more.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Ariel Rosado Foundation held its seventh annual fundraiser ride this weekend. About one hundred cyclists braved the weekend heat and rode from Galen University into the Belize City. President Leticia Westby says it was all for a good cause.
Leticia Westby, President, Ariel Rosado Foundation
“The ride went from Galen University on George Price Highway, coming down stopping at Belmopan, Cheers, Hattieville and finishing here at the Hour Bar. It has been our signature route, basically, and we had probably a hundred cyclists and most of them were registered because that is the way we generate our funds for organization. Our goal is to try and raise funds for forty scholarships this year. We spend an average of twelve hundred dollars per child in terms of scholarships for their school fees, books.”
The Ariel Rosado Foundation was set up to provide scholarships and sporting opportunities for young Belizeans. The Foundation does this through corporate sponsorship, individual donations and pledges, as well as through fundraising initiatives likethe annual ride. Westby explains why the foundation is working hard to raise funds.
Leticia Westby
Leticia Westby
“We have students all the way in Toledo, Dangriga – the only district to date where we don’t have any scholar is Orange Walk. So, we have students all across the country who are benefitting from the foundation.”
Andrea Polanco
“Are we seeing more and more students applying every year?”
Leticia Westby
“Yes. Every year we have a bigger applicant pool. It is kinda difficult for us and so we are trying our best and asking the public for their contributions. This ride is one of our main activities. We will have more activities as we try to generate funds. We all know that it is getting more and more – the economic status of the country is getting more and more difficult for individuals and that means that we will definitely be getting more applicants in that regard. Besides just providing scholarships, the Foundation also engages with our scholars. These scholars come and assist with our fundraising efforts. We have two persons who follow up with them at schools. We have the ride committee and education committee that reviews the applications and makes a decision. That decision is not just based on merit, but also on the need of the individual.”
The Ariel Rosado Foundation was established to commemorate the life of Belizean cyclist Ariel Rosado. He was an outstanding youth who accomplished a lot in before his untimely passing in a road traffic accident.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor
“Ariel Rosado exemplified the true embodiment of brain and brawn. Not only, I was told, he was very brilliant but he possessed extra ordinary strength as well. His legacy lives on in the minds of many Belizeans as a role model with many accomplishments and education. At the tender age of 16, he surprised the Belizean community by beating some fifty-one senior cyclists to win the 2001 Krem Cycling Classic. Ariel took a break from cycling to pursue his law degree and later went on to read for his masters degree. It was upon completion of this thesis that he unfortunately passed away. After his passing, his family established the Ariel Rosado in his honor and they have held on to their goal of sponsoring students to achieve their educational goals.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
If you would like to make a pledge to the Foundation or know more about upcoming fundraisers, you can visit its website or Facebook page for more information.
