Dara’s Concert and Ride for Hunger This Weekend…
There are two events in the City this weekend to support a noble cause. A concert and a ride for hunger are being organized to assist Dara Robinson’s feeding program. The program, which is now in its seventh year, provides needy students with a nutritious meal. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Legendary South African musician Lucky Dube will be honored on Sunday, along with kings of reggae Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. The yearly tribute is part of a massive fundraising effort organized by acclaimed philanthropist Dara Robinson for his primary school feeding program. The event succeeds the second annual Ride for Hunger which is also being held as an appeal to assist underprivileged students with daily meals. Onboard for the weekend of activities is Kwame Scott.
Kwame Scott, Organizer, Ride for Hunger
Kwame Scott
“Dara had a vision about doing a ride for hunger. There is a cancer walk, there is a diabetes ride, there is a social security ride so why not do a ride a for hunger to create hunger awareness, gather some much needed funds and food for his feeding program while trying to encourage a healthy lifestyle.”
Currently in its seventh year, the homage to the genre’s pioneers has seen a significant outpouring from the Belizean public. Realizing the worthiness of this cause many have contributed cash and kind and the overwhelming support is certainly being appreciated.
Dara Robinson, Philanthropist
“I da wahn lova ah reggae music and Lucky Dube, Bob and Tosh dehn da living example ah how we should live because dehn guys noh just sing music, yo undastand, Dube ihself build schools, yok know, ih put up traffic lights, ih do lotta thing eena ih time. Ih feed many people and soh dehn deh da di people like I dah noh no artost but dehn deh da di people I look up to, yoh know, cause dat da di way how God wahn wi live.”
Dara Robinson
In accordance with those expectations, Dara is leading a life of altruism. Since beginning his feeding program in 2006, Dara has been awarded as an Unsung Hero; one who is more concerned about the wellbeing of the less fortunate than the accolades he receives for the work he’s doing.
Dara Robinson
“Over di years di Unsung Hero, di different awards and thing ah get, it’s not about the awards it’s about weh deh behind di work, you know. I feel like my Belizean people confident and dehn know dat da genuine solid thing ah di deal wid, yo undastand. And di kids dehn could speak to it fi themselves you know, da dehn benefit from it. To me I da like wahn fada figga to dehn, yo undastand, da noh my duty but da my calling and I haffi champion it.”
While advocating the need for reaching out to the needy, the Ride for Hunger, says Scott, won’t see a champion being crowned.
Kwame Scott
“We are doing forty miles, just like we did last year. Instead of starting at eight in the morning, we are starting at 6:30. The date is this Saturday, August third. We start and finish at the Smart headquarters at mile two and a half on the Phillip Goldson Highway. We head north through Ladyville and unto the Burrell Boom Road where we’ll make a short ten-minute pit stop at CDS Gas Station, one of our latest sponsors for the feeding program and then we head on to Hattieville and then to Belize City, where at Leslie’s Imports the ride will be joined by some youths, ages seven to sixteen, currently attending the Belize Cycling Association’s summer program. We ride into Belize City via the Lord Ridge Cemetery and into the Central American Boulevard, BelCan Bridge unto the Northern Highway where we finish at Smart, where at the end of the ride there will be music, food and drinks and there will also be a couple prizes for some who have registered for the ride.”
Registration for the ride, which will follow behind live reggae music being played at the front of the event, is only five dollars per person. Patrons of Sunday’s tribute are being encouraged to bring along canned food as part of the donation towards the feeding program.
Dara Robinson
“It’s all about my fundraising fu get ready fu when school open back fu di feeding program, you know, same way I ask di people fu come out and support and respect themselves, respect di officers, di officers respect di people and mek we come together in love and unity.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
