Track stars raffle for Haiti relief

Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's track and field stars headed by Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Melaine Walker, have joined forces to help their Haitian neighbours.

The group will play their part by raffling themselves for a dinner date at Acropolis on Monday, February 22.

For $500 a ticket, seven lucky females could win a dinner date with Powell, Bolt, Michael Frater, Germaine Mason, Jermaine Gonzales, Darrell Brown and maybe Nesta Carter.

The group of women athletes to be raffled are Foster-Hylton, Sherone Simpson, Shericka Williams, Walker, Fraser, Kaliese Spencer and Anneisha McLaughlin.

Athlete's raffle

"It's an athletes' raffle for the Haiti relief," said Fraser, the chief organiser.

"It would include all the track stars except the ones who will be away for indoors (competition), which I think is only Nesta Carter," she added.

Haiti was ravaged when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, on Tuesday, January 12. Since then, over three million people have been affected.

According to Fraser, Acropolis, which is their main sponsor, will provide dinner and gifts to the winners, while Mercedes-Benz will provide transportation for the pair. Global relief agency UNICEF is also a sponsor.

Surprise entertainers

Additionally, two or three surprise entertainers will be on hand to sing to the pair at the dinner.

Fraser is encouraging the public to support the initiative by purchasing tickets, which she says are unlimited.

"All proceeds will go to the UNICEF Haiti Relief Fund," Fraser added.

Interested persons can contact (876) 383-2221; Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre, 29 East Kings House Road, Barbican Centre, Kingston, (876) 978-1299; Mercedes-Benz at South Camp Road (876) 750-3501/17 and UNICEF Kingston office at 60 Knutsford Boulevard, 8th Floor, Kingston 5, (876) 926-7584/5.