Cyclists aid in relief effort
Good evening I’m James Adderley and you’re in tuned with this latest version of Sports Monday. Sports on the national scene has had to take a back seat in the aftermath of Hurricane Iris. The emphasis of late has been on getting the communities hurt by the storm back on their feet. This is why, over the weekend, the cyclist of this nation travelled to Placencia in an effort to assist in any way possible.
First of all this is what the cycling delegation found at Placencia and as you can see, the devastation is of horrendous proportions. For Cross-Country champion Ernest Meighan, helping his fellow man is no big thing, and today his teammates include three time champion Charlie Lewis and Ernest Thurton.
In fact, a lot of the big guns are out today as Duane Arnold and big Mike Lewis combined on this particular delivery. At this stop, the helpers included coach Matthew Smiling, Ernest Thurton, Mike Lewis and Mateo Cruz as they brainstorm the next move.
Whether the task was high in the air or down on the ground, these top cyclists came to give of themselves. And just maybe, Charlie Lewis is looking for a new career in weight lifting when he leaves cycling.
Meanwhile, the other half of the cycling delegation was working out at Seine Bight and we caught up with Douglas Lamb, one of the brain thrust behind the initiative.
Douglas Lamb, Cyclist
“Myself and Errol Gentle from Santino’s we thought that it was only fair for athletes or cyclists to give something back to the community of Placencia and Seine Bight. In the past years, they’ve always contributed to us and contribute kindly without hesitation. So the only thing we could do in return is to give back our labour, clothes and things like that to the community.”
James Adderley
“How did you get the cyclists to respond?”
Douglas Lamb
“Well it was a task because some people don’t really like to participate in things that doesn’t concern them. But after lobbying with them for several mornings, telling them the purpose of our going down there, we had guys like Mike Lewis, Duane Arnold, Barney Brown, Ernest Meighan, they got together and went in their own vehicle. We didn’t get the turn out that we wanted with another delegation, but we went and stopped at Seine Bight and we did our part at Seine Bight. Barney Brown and the others went on to Placencia and helped out there. So we were split in two.”
James Adderley
“How was the helped received by the communities?”
Douglas Lamb
“The association that was down there took the names of and parcels that we brought in and they will contribute it to the people. But we lent our helping hand to help tear down houses, help haul back and set back houses at Seine Bight, along with the Minister of Sports. We were along with him and his crowd and together we were trying our best to help the people.”
Hey folks, you heard it from the man in full and behalf of the nation we certainly want to say thank you to the cycling community. That’s our show for today. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
