Benevolent boyz donate to Jamaica Cancer Society
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao — Jamaica’s Senior Reggae Boyz, under the captaincy of Andre Blake has embarked on a culture of giving back to society and the players formalised the gesture by donating $150,000 to the Jamaica Cancer Society at the end of their Concacaf Nations League match against Aruba inside National Stadium on Saturday.
The Boyz used the occasion of their match during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to start something that they hope will benefit Jamaicans for years to come.
“The Reggae Boys have always wanted to start to do stuff like that and fortunately we had a game right around when it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we thought that would be the perfect timing to get it done and it is definitely something that we are looking towards as a team to always make donations like these, whether it’s to charity, homes, and schools as well, so definitely something we’re hoping to get bigger and better as we go along,” Blake told the Jamaica Observer yesterday here in Curacao ahead of today’s return-leg game against Aruba.
“But that’s just our way of trying to give back to the country and, as I said before, hopefully it’s something that we can keep going and soon turn it into a bigger, better thing.”
Though the team has donated to various charities in the past, even with some current players making regular donations to various groups, Blake explained that the idea for the team to consistently give back to society came from players and staff alike.
“It kind of came from the group, and the staff because to whom much is given much is expected, and we also think that we need to start to form this bond of the players with the country in different environments, and going into schools and just little stuff like that to go out there, to outreach and to let the country know us some more and know that it’s not just about football, there’s life after football and it can be anybody in a situation at any given time. so for us, giving back a portion of what we receive is only positive,” he said.
Blake made it clear that every time the Boyz assemble in Jamaica for a game, they want to make a contribution to some worthy cause.
“It is something that every time we come into camp we’re looking to collect money from each player. We set a figure and sometimes some players donate more than what is asked. But again, it’s for a good cause, and we are blessed to be in this situation. We’re just trying to share our blessings and give back and hopefully the $150,000 will be the benchmark or the starting point, so it can’t go below that. It’s got to be the same or more. so for the next round of games in November we’re going to try to find something else to donate to that’s good.
“We’re trying to set a culture of trying to create the environment to help our brothers and sometimes it’s not about the amount, but the thought that counts, as some people can afford to give more than others, so we’re trying to just create this culture.
“We know we have a very good group of young guys and there’s a lot that we can achieve, but you know we have to also take care of business off the field and understand that it’s more than just football and at any given time it can be somebody for us in a [dire] situation and we need some assistance and you have to give to get sometimes, and it is very necessary for us to try to create a giving environment right now.”