GIVING BACK: Sarwan, Fitness53 support work of RHTY&SC
Former Guyana and West Indies cricket captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and his family of Fitness 53 Gym at Providence, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday handed over a large quantity of cricket balls and trophies to Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS (RHTY&SC, MS).
The donation was presented by Sarwan’s parents, Kishan and Kumarie, during a simple ceremony at the Club’s Area ‘H’ Ground Office.
Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, expressed gratitude to the former Guyana and West Indies batting idol for his kind gesture. Foster also disclosed that the donated items would be shared out to eight cricket clubs and one sub-association in Berbice “as the RHTY&SC strives to make sure that cricket is offered to youths as an alternative to a life of crime and the evil ways of Satan.”
The RHTY&SC for 2017 has assisted dozens of cricket clubs and schools with over $3M worth of cricket balls, scorebooks, cricket gears, cricket stumps, trophies, medals and educational materials under its Cricket Outreach Programme.
The RHTY&SC, Foster proudly stated, is the only club in Guyana and perhaps the Caribbean that assists its sister organisations and pledged that the programme would be expanded in 2018 to include more clubs and schools.
The RHTY&SC and Ramnaresh Sarwan have enjoyed a close relationship over the years. The former West Indies batting star was inducted as an Honorary Member and was honoured at a special ceremony that was attended by the Guyana and Leewards Island Cricket Teams.
Sarwan for several years has also sponsored the Ramnaresh Sarwan Educational Scholarship Fund, which has benefitted dozens of less fortunate students. The Fund has assisted the students to stay in schools to obtain an educational background by providing them with all the necessities to attend school.
Vice-President Mark Papannah, Organising Secretary Keith Hicks and Cricket Manager Ravin Kissoonlall each expressed gratitude to the Sarwan Family and Fitness 53 Gym.
Kishan Sarwan, in handing over the donation, stated that his son was impressed with the work of the RHTY&SC and its commitment to making a positive difference. The Fitness 53 Gym, he stated, is fully aware of its corporate responsibilities to give back to society and the donation to cricket clubs was the best way to do so as Ramnaresh Sarwan excelled at the highest level in the game.
Among the cricket clubs that would benefit from the donation are Blairmont, Police, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Kildonan and Upper Corentyne. Ramnaresh Sarwan played 87 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring 5,842 runs at an impressive average of 40.01 with 15 centuries and 31 fifties.
In 181 One Day Internationals, he scored 5,804 runs with five centuries. He also served briefly as West Indies skipper before injury forced him to pass on the captaincy to Chris Gayle.